1997 Morgan Family Reunion Picture

Yours truly was pleasantly surprised today to discover his cousin Michelle had scanned and uploaded this picture of a reunion held at Aunt Diane and Uncle BG's house in Orlando back in 1997.

Do ye socks recognize any of these folks?!

The 3's of Me

OK, apologies in advance, but I got tagged in another one of those survey things. So, here goes:

You have been tagged. You are supposed to write a note with the 3's of YOU.

Three names I go by:
1. William
2. Little Billy (yeah, I know. that one even cracks ME up!)
3. #*()&^#*(

Three jobs I've had in my life:
1. pizza delivery
2. camera shop slave
3. salesman

Three places I've lived:
1. Orlando
2. Springfield, Virginia
3. Lubbock, Texas

Three favorite drinks:
1. Diet Coke
2. coffee
3. Malbec

Three TV shows I watch:
1. Survivor
2. Big Brother
3. NCIS

Three Places I've been:
1. Atlantic City
2. New Orleans
3. Mexico

Three people who text me regularly:
I don't normally get texts (because my plan doesn't allow me to respond anymore) but my last three were from
1. Joanna
2. Howard
3. Aunt Diane

Three of my favorite foods:
1. Mexican
2. Italian
3. Chinese

Three things I'm looking forward to:
1. tap dancing on plywood (those who know, know what they know)
2. January 20, 2013 (hope and change!)
3. The end of this recession!!

Rev. Billy Gene Brown (1931-2008)

I am very sorry to report the death of my great-uncle Billy Gene "BG" Brown.

He ended a 6-year battle with Parkinson's Disease at 4:15 yesterday morning, requesting his body be donated to medical research to help find a cure for this terrible illness.

BG celebrated his 76th birthday this past December 7th. Though born in Miami, he spent his formative years in Plymouth and attended Apopka High School.

After serving with the US Navy (and riding out a terrific hurricane in Charleston Harbor!) he returned to this little corner of heaven to marry my great-aunt Diane Morgan on August 28, 1953--almost 55 years ago. Together they operated His Way Ministries for many years. They have three children (David, Debbie, and Danny) as well as several grandchildren and great-granchildren.

Memorial services are scheduled at two of the churches BG served as pastor:

* 7/6/08 (Sunday) - 1pm - Corinth Baptist Church, Clinton, Missouri.

* 7/19/08 (Saturday) - 2pm - Rosemont Baptist Church, Orlando, Florida.

Some sad news out of Missouri

I received a distressing email from my Aunt Diane this evening.

Her son Danny woke up this morning to discover his wife Norma had passed away in her sleep.

Some of ye socks may recall that Danny and Norma had moved out to Missouri recently to be near Aunt Diane, and help her take care of Uncle BG (who is suffering from Parkinson's Disease).

Well, on top of the shock of Norma's death, I now learn that BG has been confined to his bed for the last few days and is basically unresponsive.

They have a lot on their plates out there in western Missouri. So, if you're the praying kind, I'm sure Aunt Diane, Danny, and the rest of the Browns would greatly appreciate it now more than ever.

His Way Teaching Ministries

I received my monthly newsletter from Uncle BG and Aunt Diane in the "snail mail"yesterday, and was disappointed to read that they will be discontinuing it after this issue.

Evidently, BG's Parkinson's Disease has progressed to the point that publication of the newsletter is just too much of a strain, and that's undertstandable.

But, fear not, ye socks! He and Diane have gone digital, and are in the process of posting some of the Bible lessons dating back to the newsletter's inception in 1978 on a new web site:

http://www.hiswayteachingministry.com/

Check it out!

Rita Norton McCann

I am sorry to report the death of my great-aunt Rita last night following a heart attack in Clinton, Massachusetts. She would have celebrated her 92nd birthday in just a few weeks.

Her passing marks the end of an era, as she was the last surviving child of Thomas J. Norton, Sr. and Lil Irving Norton.

You socks who know me well have probably heard me tell tales about my Grandma G. Well, Rita was one of her three older sisters, a twin to Aunt Marie (the subject of many equally priceless tales).

In addition to her parents and siblings, Aunt Rita was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Lincoln McCann (1910-1994).

She is survived by her only daughter Sharon, son-in-law Tom McQuoid, and grandsons Darren and Kyle . . . and, of course, numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, and friends.

Robert J. McNally of Clinton will be handling funeral arrangements. The immediate family will accept visitors on Sunday. And, a funeral mass will be held on Monday.

Expressions of sympathy may be made directly to Sharon at mccsh02@comcast.net.

His Way online

I got my monthly newsletter from Uncle BG and Aunt Diane in the mail today.

You may remember from previous posts that they have a teaching ministry out in Missouri.

Anyway, the newsletters have unfortunately been the bearers of rather distressing health news lately.

But, this month, they announced the launch of their first website:

http://www.hiswayteachingministry.com/

Check it out and send them an email if you get a chance.

Also, congrats to their granddaughter Megan and her new husband Brian, who got married out in Dallas last month.

And, please pray for their other granddaughter Danica, who left two days after her sister's wedding to go on a mission to India FOR A YEAR!!

Prayer request for Uncle BG

I heard from my Aunt Diane this morning that Uncle BG is not doing very well lately.

He had to be rushed to the hospital by ambulance last week after developing some unexplainable rectal bleeding.

After 6 units of blood transfusion, a colonoscopy, and a variety of esophagus, stomach, and other tests, the doctors are still unsure where all the blood was coming from.

Fortunately, the bleeding HAS stopped, and he is now being moved to a rehab floor where the hope is he will be able to improve enough to go home in a few days.

Anyway, Aunt Diane would like all of you in the blogosphere who believe in the power of prayer to join in the recovery efforts.

Aunt Diane & Uncle BG

I received bad news last night that Aunt Diane will not be able to participate in Dad's services later this month as she had planned.

She was supposed to have accompanied Aunt Dot and Uncle Richard with her keyboard talents as they sang in the chapel, and had even made arrangements to fly down here from Missouri.

Unfortunately, Uncle BG's health has declined to the point that she felt necessary to cancel.

We will really miss her presence and beautiful singing voice on the 31st, but can totally understand the need to be with a loved one in need. We were in her shoes just a few weeks ago.