Clara D. (Dexter) Morgan, 91, of Mattapoisett, died Thursday November 30, 2006. She was the beloved wife of the late Denman G. Morgan.
Born in Orange, MA, the youngest child and only daughter of the late Arthur and Susie (Watts) Dexter, she was raised in Auburn, MA. She received a Bachelor of Education degree from Worcester State Teachers College and a Master of Education from Boston University. After graduation she taught first in West Boylston, then at the Center School in Mattapoisett, and West Hartford, CT. After her marriage, she taught in Fairhaven and Marion before returning to the Center School in Mattapoisett. After her retirement she volunteered as an aide at Center School.
On June 1, 1975, the Mattapoisett Selectmen proclaimed Clara Morgan Day, honoring her thirty years of continuous service to the Brownies. She received the Hats Off award from the New Bedford Chapter of the DeMolay. She was given the highest honor of the Plymouth County Education Association, the Loretta Quinlan Award. In 1999, she was given the Wanderer Keel Award. In 2000, she received an award from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Literacy Challenge Committee for volunteer work teaching reading to children and adults.
Mrs. Morgan was a member of the Grand Cross of Color of the Order of the Rainbow for Girls, the Mattapoisett Bicentennial Committee, and the Gifford Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. Her interest in genealogy led her to join the Colonial Dames and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was appointed to the Mattapoisett School Committee to finish an unexpired term and later ran for reelection, serving on the committee for nine years. She was also appointed to serve on the Old Rochester District School Committee and Union #55 Committee. She was the Sunday School Primary Department Superintendent of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church from 1953-1955.
She is survived by her son Dexter P. Morgan and wife Patricia of Newport News, Virginia; her grandchildren Dexter P. Morgan, II, and wife Jennifer, and Tricia L'Heureux and husband Michael, all of Virginia, Stephen Calise and wife Colleen and Lance Calise and wife Carol, all of Mattapoisett, William Calise and wife Laura of Stonington, CT, and Joni Scott of Fairhaven; her great grandchildren Taran, Colin, Alex, Nicholas and Cory Calise, Joshua and Logan Scott, Ashley and Rachael Morgan; six nieces and several great and great-great nephews and nieces.
She was the mother of the late Frances Calise and sister of the late Earle Lewis Dexter, Parker Jerome Dexter, and Stanton Dexter.
Her Memorial Service will be held on Saturday December 16, 2006 at 2 PM in the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Mattapoisett Local Scholarship Fund, (payable to Town of Mattapoisett), P.O. Box 433, Mattapoisett, MA 02739. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.