Funeral Service for ETBU Alum James Morgan On Wednesday

MARSHALL, Texas (10/16/12)- Funeral services for East Texas Baptist University graduate and Tiger baseball player James Morgan have been scheduled for Wednesday, October 17, at 2:00 p.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church of Marshall.

Morgan, who played for the Tigers from 2003-2005, was killed in a plane crash in Wyoming. Morgan, Maverick Cayce, Billy Gee, and Charles Ford, all from Marshall, left the Harrison County Airport Tuesday morning, October 9 in a 2005 Piper-PA-32 owned by Ford. They were on their way to Casper, Wyoming. The plane was last seen in Dodge City, Kansas, where it had stopped to refuel.

The wreckage was spotted Thursday evening, October 11, at 6:02 p.m. CDT, sitting on a rocky ledge on the south face of Wyoming's Laramie Peak, which is about 9,800 feet above sea level, says Albany County Sheriff's Office Undersheriff Rob DeBree.

"Many of our staff and faculty remember James Morgan as beloved and well respected student when he was at East Texas Baptist University. James graduated in 2005, and was an outstanding member of the ETBU Baseball team,” said ETBU President Dr. Dub Oliver. "He was an infielder and pitcher for the Tigers from 2003-2005. He ranks number three on the list for career RBIs (with 126) and 2nd all time in saves (with 11). The ETBU Family is praying for his family and friends and the families and friends of the other men who died in the plane crash, asking for God’s comfort and strength during this time.”

During the Homecoming football game on October 20 the Athletic department will pay tribute to Morgan as well as in the Game Day magazine.

The obituary from Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home of Carthage:



James Gregory Morgan -(August 31, 1983 - October 9, 2012



James Gregory Morgan, 29, of Beckville, TX, died October 9, 2012 as a result of injuries sustained in an airplane accident outside of Laramie, WY.

He was born August 31, 1983 in Houston, the son of Tracy Arnold Roden and Gregory David Morgan. He graduated from Marshall High School in 2001 as a Texas Scholar. While there, he was a member of the Maverick baseball team and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. James was always active in the Marshall Baseball community, participating in the Marshall Youth Baseball Association from age 4 to 18. From 1998-2004 he umpired for MYBA and later served on their board. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from East Texas Baptist University in 2005. Playing third base and serving as a closing pitcher, James currently holds the record in saves among other ETBU accolades. He married Ashley Mae Buchanan, the love of his life and best friend, on November 17, 2007. He was a manager and salesman at C.W. Ford Rentals. James was a loving husband, dedicated father, faithful Christian, and beloved by his family and friends. He was also a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Marshall.

James is survived by his wife Ashley Buchanan Morgan; his son Kiptyn Brooks Morgan; his mother and step-father Tracy and Greg Roden; his father and stepmother Gregory and Angie Morgan; his sister Ashlee Morgan; his brother Logan Edmonson; his sister Mary Kaylie Roden; and his sister Isabel Morgan. He also leaves his maternal grandfather, Wallace Arnold, and his paternal grandfather David Morgan and David’s wife Carolyn. James is also survived by a host of extended family including his great aunt Bonnie Talley and her husband David; uncle Barrie Arnold; aunt Rebecca Arnold; former stepsister Donna Edmonson; in-laws Gail and Mark Buchanan; his wife’s paternal grandparents Louise and Frank Cain; his wife’s maternal grandfather Max Harding; sister-in-law Loretta Blair and her husband Bart; sister-in-law Leslie McAfee and her husband Josh; brother-in-law Eley Buchanan; nieces Carson Blair, Madison McAfee, Jessie McAfee; and nephews Jackson Blair and Josiah Griffin.

Visitation hours will be on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church, 2408 W. Pinecrest Dr., Marshall, TX. The funeral will be held on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church with Pastors Carlton Burris and Phillip Johnson officiating. Interment will follow at Youngblood Cemetery near Beckville. Services are under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home.

Active pallbearers will be Dustin Dockery, Logan Edmonson, Jarrod McCuller, Nicholas Martinek, Donald Mitchell, Shawn Schimming, Bryan Sutton, and Heath Sutton.

Honorary pallbearers are Barrie Arnold, Travis Baker, Mark Bayliss, Bart Blair, Eley Buchanan, Jordan Byrd, Serug Camargo, Roy Campbell, Matt Futrell, Kolt Daniel, Bryant Hicks, Phillip Johnson, Jimmy Lancaster, Thomas Larkin, Jackie Lloyd, Josiah Jones, Josh McAfee, Mark Moore, Phillip Presley, Michael Ritter, Barry Sutton, Cody Sutton, Brian Welch, and Gary Worthington.

If desired, donations may be made to the Ashley & Kiptyn Morgan Fund at Panola National Bank, 1510 W. Panola, Carthage, TX 75633.

The family would like to thank the community for the overwhelming expression of prayers, love, and support throughout the past week.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.