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This
is my husband and best friend, Donald Dwight
Morgan. He was born Jan. 6, 1976, and was
taken to Heaven on May 11, 2001.
Donny
was raised in southwest Missouri all his life.
At an early age, he
showed an interest in fixing bikes and, later,
went to vehicles. He could
fix anything and no one ever had to show him how.
He graduated from Wheaton
High School in May of 1995, all the while
keeping a job and helping raise his younger
brother.
Donny
leaves behind his family--his Mom, Crystal Morris;
his dad, Troy Morgan; his brother, Sammy Morgan;
one nephew, Trevor Morgan.
Donny
and I met in high school through some friends.
It was love at first
sight for both of us. He quickly became my
dearest and closest friend.
We
had our first daughter, Kristen Marie Morgan on Dec.
30, 1995. She was the apple of her daddy's eye
and he loved her very much. On August 11,
1996, we decided it was time to get married. We
were married in the church he grew up in -- Chapel
of Grace in Monett, Missouri.
Our
life was good. He had a great job and I was
able to stay home and be a mommy. On Sept. 18,
1997, we brought little Brianna Lea Morgan into this
world. He cried every time we had a new baby!
Donny was proud of his precious babies and
loved to take them places and show them off.
Finally,
we ended the growth of our family with Taylor Donn
Morgan on Oct. 28, 1999. She was born very early and
we decided then to have no more children and went
ahead and named her after her dad since we couldn't
get a boy!
Donny
never thought about the girls being, well, girls. He
took them four-wheeling in his truck and rough-housed with them all the same. He would
have raised very strong women. His children
were his life and he cherished them. Even when
we had our problems, we still were able to be the
best of friends. Our love never changed and
grew stronger each and every day.
On
May 11, 2001, our lives were forever changed. Donny
had not been getting along with a new neighbor and
they had been arguing some over the previous weeks.
Nothing big, just stuff like parking spaces.
On May 11, he called me on the telephone just
to say hello and I love you. While he was on
the phone, Dustin Harp and Rebecca Mackey decided to
murder him. They did something to get him to go
outside. Then, Dustin provoked a physical
fight with Donny in order for Rebecca to have a
chance to go and get his gun.
Donny
was armed with a bowl of noodles and a cordless
phone. After he broke free of the physical
fight, Donny got back on the phone with me. He
wanted to let me know he was okay. He didn't
realize he was already doomed. The gun was
brought to Dustin. Donny ran away. He
was hit several times in the back while he was
trying to get away. Donny ran an entire block
with this madman shooting at him before he finally
collapsed in a parking lot. Help was there
immediately, but the injuries were too much. The
first bullet went through most of his vital organs.
This
happened in daylight in front of several witnesses
and was less than a block from the police station.
We are now trying to get the trial going, but
lawyer's can postpone things forever. Our
little girls were only 5, 3, and 1 when this
happened. They want to know why they can't go
to Heaven and visit Daddy. Why did the bad guy
shoot Daddy?
As
a Mom, these questions hurt so very much. I
cannot take this pain away from them and it is
devastating. Donny's mother is so lost without
him. His brother is very angry about it.
His dad doesn't know if Donny knew that he
loved him. I wonder if my husband really knew
how much I loved him, too. I miss him so much.
The girls are growing and learning so much
every day and he's missing out on so much. Our
Kristen says not to worry because he can see what
she's doing all the time from Heaven. So wise
for a 5-year-old.
Donny
had hundreds of friends and family members who came
to the visitation. It was such a blessing to
see so many faces. He was a good man, a
Christian, and he had a heart of gold. We miss
you, Donny.
Leaves the earth upon this path
With
blue horizons, home at last
Mountains framed by
bluest sky
Fills his soul with gentle
sigh
Path of love is paved with
gold
Promised treasure eyes behold
Beyond
the mountain high above
Valley of all perfect
love
Rows of flowers everywhere
Nature
looms in beauty rare
Hands will reach to
welcome him
Hearts all joined in joyous
hymn
Bounty of new world he sees
Fills
his heart with ecstasy
Just one step and love
is found
His gentle spirit has been
crowned
Struggle on this earth is
done
Memories shared with everyone
Heart
will keep love safely stored
This for us our
sweet reward
Final journey with slower
pace
Footprints made that we will
trace
Turns to wave with smile of grace
His
love and spirit we embrace.
~ Francine Pucillo
~
Šused with
permission
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Donald
Morgan
Donald
Dwight Morgan, 25, of Monett, died at 4:42 p.m.
May 11, 2001 at Cox Monett Hospital. The death
is under investigation as a homicide.
Mr.
Morgan was born January 6, 1976, in Aurora. He
worked at George's Poultry Processing Plant in
Butterfield. He was a 1995 graduate of Wheaton
High School and a member of the Chapel of Grace
Church in Monett and the 4X4 Power Truck Club in
Springfield.
He
married Valeria Farris on August 11, 1996, in
Monett, and she survives.
Additional
survivors include three daughters, Kristen
Morgan, Brianna Morgan, and Taylor Morgan, all
of the home; his father, Troy Morgan of Ridgley;
his mother, Crystal Morris of Purdy; one
brother, Sammy Morgan of Ridgley; and his
paternal grandparents, Oscar and Helen Morgan of
Miller.
Services
will be 10 a.m. tomorrow, May 15, at Bennett-Wormington
Chapel in Monett with Rev. Jim Copley
officiating. Graveside services will be 2:30
p.m. tomorrow at Rivermont Cemetery in
Springfield under the direction of Bennett-Wormington
Funeral Home of Monett.
Visitation
will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today, May 14, at the
funeral home.
Evidence heard against Rebecca Mackey in
Morgan homicide case
Published December 04, 2001 4:00 PM CST
Preliminary hearing documents woman's role in
shooting death outside Monett residence
The second suspect in the homicide of Donald
Morgan of Monett has been bound over for trial
in Barry County Circuit Court, following a
preliminary hearing yesterday.
Witnesses for the prosecution provided
testimony for Associate Circuit Judge Michael
Garrett supporting a trial for Rebecca J.
Mackey, 18, who is charged with second degree
murder in the May 11 shooting death of Morgan.
Assistant Prosecutor Pat Sullivan called
police officers and witnesses to describe the
streetside altercation.
Morgan, 25, was shot by a .22 caliber rifle,
allegedly by Dustin Gene Harp, who was living
with Mackey in an apartment in the same
building with Morgan at Fifth and Cale in
Monett. Harp and Morgan had a history of
confrontations. Morgan was in the front yard
of the house talking on a cordless phone when
the altercation in question began.
In this incident, occurring around 4 p.m., a
fistfight ensued where Harp reportedly took
the worst part. Harp then directed Mackey to
get his gun. Lydia Cook, a witness walking her
dog at the time, testified yesterday she saw
Mackey return with the gun, momentarily
hesitating before giving the rifle to Harp.
Duane Thomas, who lives across the street, was
also watching. He testified Mackey initially
pointed the gun at both men while they were
fighting. Challenged by Morgan, she handed the
gun to Harp, who started firing.
Also testifying were Monett Police Sergeant
Kermit Howell, who had been at a nearby dry
cleaning business at the time. Howell
testified witnessing Morgan's collapse, and
summoning help. Monett Officer Jeff Martinson
told the judge both suspects surrendered
themselves at the police station shortly after
the shooting.
The hearing had been ordered by Circuit Judge
J. Edward Sweeney after Mackey and Harp waived
preliminary hearings in June and were
scheduled for arraignment in circuit court.
Mackey's attorney at the time, John Woodard,
changed his mind and asked for her to have a
preliminary hearing. Woodard withdrew from
representing both suspects. Mackey was
represented by public defender Victor Head
yesterday.
Before a packed courtroom of spectators,
Mackey was bound over by Garrett for trial
back in circuit court before Judge Sweeney.
She will likely be arraigned on December 17.
She remains in custody in lieu of $250,000
bond.
Harp, charged with second degree murder and
armed criminal action, remains in custody in
lieu of $300,000 bond, also facing a charge of
armed criminal action. He is scheduled for a
jury trial to run June 24 to 28 of next year,
with jury selection slated for June 21.
Initially, when Woodard was representing both
suspects, a trial for both at the same time
had been planned. Circuit Court Clerk Dick
Sanders said he no longer expects that to
happen.
The Monett Times Story
The Monett Times Story II
The Monett Times Story III
The Monett Times Story IV
The Monett Times Story V
The Monett Times Story VI
The Monett Times Story VII
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The painting is ŠJim Warren and used with his
full permission.
Page
visited 
times since 10/28/01
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