James Darrell Morgan
May 5, 1941
September 2, 2026
James Darrell Morgan, age 85, of Chelsea, Oklahoma, entered his heavenly home on Wednesday evening, September 2, 2026. His final moments were spent at Hillcrest Hospital, living life to the fullest as he took a chance on a long surgery to improve his quality of life.
Born May 5, 1941, in Mayes County, Oklahoma, James was the second son of the late William Wesley Morgan Sr. and Mary Alice Morgan.
James grew up on a cattle farm outside Pryor and graduated from Okmulgee Tech before settling down with his first love, Barbara Willis-Morgan, and making their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While their children were still young, James moved the family to Chelsea, Oklahoma, believing they would have a better life there. Life was good in Chelsea, where James enjoyed teaching his children about horses, gun safety, hunting, farming, and raising beef cattle.
After his first marriage ended, James met his next love, Jjay Clark-Morgan, and gained a stepson, Kristopher Mishler. The new family returned to the Pryor family farm, where James continued gardening, raising cattle, and enjoying life.
James found joy in his small gardening projects, his dog Gober, and staying active around the farm. He loved family gatherings, sharing stories, and weekly visits with his grandkids. He came alive during holiday trips and family get-togethers, using that precious time to impart wisdom and soak up as much of life's vibrant energy as he could.
James — our superhero — is survived by his devoted children: daughter Shanan Cox of Chelsea, Oklahoma; son Jay Morgan and his wife Sheri, also of Chelsea; and stepson Kristopher Mishler of Pryor, Oklahoma. He is also survived by his older brother, W.W. Morgan, and wife Pat, of Pryor, Oklahoma, and his younger sister, Donna Hendrickson, also of Pryor.
His memory lives on in his four grandchildren: Zachary Cox of Claremore; Jarred Cox of Verdigris; Gabrielle Cox of Verdigris; and Chloe Morgan-Grubb and her husband, Hunter, of Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
James was preceded in death by his parents, WW Sr. and Mary Alice Morgan, and his wife, Jjay Clark-Morgan.
A celebration of James's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Pleasant View Baptist Church in Pryor. Family, friends, and acquaintances are encouraged to bring pictures, stories, and expressions of a life well lived. Light refreshments will be served.
Let us remember the past with gratitude, live the present with enthusiasm, and look forward to the future with confidence.