Mildred Geneva Morgan (nee O’Keefe) 1934-2019
Mildred “Millie” Morgan passed away peacefully at hospital on Sunday, September 22, 2019.
Mildred is survived by her son Todd (Stella) Morgan and daughter Treena (Jean-Pierre, “JP”) Fontaine. Mildred is proud grandma to Alexa and Grant Morgan of Kirkland Lake, Ontario. She is also survived by her brother John (Gwen) O’Keefe of Toronto, Ontario; sisters-in-law Yolande O’Keefe of North Bay, Ontario; Norma-Jean Morgan of Elliot Lake, Ontario; Carrie Svendsen (Curt) of Edmonton, Alberta; Win Morgan (Angelo Scanga) of Courtice, Ontario; brother-in-law Clyde Morgan of Kirkland Lake, Ontario; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Mildred was predeceased by her husband Joseph in 2008. She also is predeceased by her parents Michael and Arcilia (St. Martin) O’Keefe, her brother Michael O’Keefe and numerous sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.
Mildred was born February 17, 1934 at Kirkland Lake, Ontario where she became a lifelong resident. She attended St. Jerome and KLCVI where she usually graduated top of her class. In Grade 8 she won the B’Nai Brith Scholarship for top marks in the separate schools. Immediately upon graduating high school she began work as a bookkeeper for Walter Little Transport. Mildred also was an avid bowler and curler winning several awards including the Northern Ontario Business Girls Bonspiel.
In 1959 she married her husband and future business partner, Joseph and began a family and a string of successful businesses. They were inseparable – you rarely saw them apart. Together they owned and operated Joe Morgan Trucking; operated the Golden Gate Esso service station in Chaput Hughes; and owned numerous rental apartments and houses as well as three laundromats. However, their most successful venture was Morgan’s Drive-in, one of the very first “fast food” restaurants in Northern Ontario which they researched during their “honeymoon” in the United States. Even with as many as five businesses running simultaneously, they found time for volunteer work. Mildred sat on the Kirkland Lake Public School Board as well as the board of ARC industries (predecessor to Community Living).
As busy as Mildred was, family always came first. She attended every single game, practice, recital or whatever other activity her children took part in. She took her children everywhere, usually with other kids in tow. Work would always get rearranged to make sure she and Joe could be there when it mattered. Later, her grandchildren became the centre of her world, spending many afternoons telling stories and hearing about their day to day lives. She also loved to sew and knit for her family and, in later years, donated all her knitting to good causes.
Cremation will be followed by a private family celebration of her life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice or someone in need.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Mildred Geneva Morgan..
Death notice for the town of: Kirkland Lake, Province: Ontario