Connie Sue Morgan, 86, passed away July 17, 2023 peacefully in her sleep at home with her family. She was born September 13, 1936 in Fillmore CA. Connie was the first of three children born to Eula and Joseph Wahl.
Connie grew up in Fillmore and attended Fillmore High School where she was a majorette and twirled fire batons. As a freshman Connie met her husband John on a blind date arranged by mutual friends. After graduating in 1954 Connie attended Marymount College on a scholarship while John served in the U S Army, stationed in Okinawa, Japan.
Connie and John married in 1956 when John returned from the Army. They made their home in Santa Paula and welcomed their four children James, Melinda, Patrick and Larry. They were members of St. Sebastian Catholic church. John worked in the grocery business becoming a manager with Vons, Connie was a homemaker.
In 1973 Connie and John purchased Ven-Oak market and the family moved to Oak View. They later purchased The Corner Market which was known for its beef jerky. Connie did all the bookkeeping for the markets. The family spent many hours working together.
By 1985 Connie and John were ready for a change of pace. Horses had always been a passion of theirs. They sold the markets, found a suitable location and opened Morgan Carriage Works. John had always enjoyed wood working and leather tooling. The business repaired and restored carriages, sold harness, and provided carriage rides for weddings and other events. Their son Pat joined them in the business. Connie kept the books and spent countless hours grooming the horses. They enjoyed many years traveling to carriage driving competitions and carriage auctions throughout the country, including trips to Ohio and Pennsylvania to meet Amish suppliers.
Connie was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. She was a founding member of The Whip’r Snapper Driving Society of Southern California. Over the years Connie volunteered with the Ventura County Sherriff’s Department at the Oak View station and the Ojai Pregnancy Center.
Connie was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years John Morgan, her parents, her brother Don Wahl, Son Larry Justin Morgan and grandson Johnathan Morgan. She is survived by her sister Pam Collyer, sons James and Patrick of Oak View, daughter Melinda Burkett (Bill) of La Quinta CA and foster daughter Sandra Pennington of Indio CA. Grandchildren: Darby Moreno (Steve), Christopher Holladay, Michelle Taylor (Ryan), Julie Hauenstein (John), Morgan Burkett, Matthew Burkett, Jacob Morgan, JulieAnn Morgan, Kiley Mullen (Andrew), Margie France and Justin Morgan. Great grandchildren: Mila and Vance Moreno, Kyle Taylor, Burke, Mason and Maverick Hauenstein, Billie and Leah Hassan, Violet and Kian Mullen.
Connie was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother. She had a strong soul that touched the lives of many. Connie was dedicated to instilling faith, morals and the value of hard work to her children and grandchildren.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 11:00am at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 185 St. Thomas Drive, Ojai CA. A lunch reception will follow at the church.