The Excelsior Standard, Dec. 8, 2023

Patrick Morgan

Patrick Joseph Morgan, 77, of Liberty died Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, after a prolonged illness. He was born Sept. 16, 1946, in Kansas City to Joseph E. and Patria (Collins) Morgan. He married his high school sweetheart, Verna Mae (Zurn), in 1968. Patrick was a graduate of Excelsior Springs High School and lived most of his life in Excelsior Springs. He was co-publisher of the Town & Country Leader, The Daily Standard and other Leader publications with his father. He was a board member of the Northwest Missouri Press Association and Central Missouri Press Association. He was active in promoting freedom of the press in the Americas, especially Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, Peru and Brazil.

He sold the papers in 1986 and became the first reseller of Apple computer systems for newspapers in Missouri as the Electronic Publisher. In the 1990s, Patrick was publisher of the Big Spring (Texas) Herald.

In Excelsior Springs, Patrick was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and Lions Club. He was a past president of the Excelsior Springs Chamber of Commerce.

He was an Eagle Scout and Fire Builder, and a member of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say.

He attended William Jewell College and Maryville College.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Thomas K. Morgan, in 1986; and brother-in-law, Charlie Roberts.

Survivors include his wife, Verna Morgan, Liberty; daughter and son-in-law, Shanna and Robert Pettegrew, Liberty; son and daughter-in-law, Ryan and Nicky Morgan, Liberty; grandsons, Patrick Pettegrew, Liberty, and Dylan Pettegrew, stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Glendale, Ariz.; sister, Shannon Morgan, Excelsior Springs; sister, Molly Roberts, Excelsior Springs; sister and brother-in-law, Jill and John Clark, Excelsior Springs; brother and sister-in-law, Kevin and Sonya Morgan, Excelsior Springs; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held 1-2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, followed by the funeral service at 2, at Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs. Burial followed at Crown Hill Cemetery, Excelsior Springs.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gentiva Hospice Foundation at https://www.Gentivahs.com/ about/donate/.