Houston Chronicle Sunday

DR. JOSEPH FRANKLIN MORGAN

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1942-2021

June 17, 1942 –

March 22, 2021

Dr. Joseph Franklin

Morgan was born in Dallas, Texas on June 17, 1942, to

Alta Lancaster Morgan and John Hamlyn Morgan, Jr.

Joe and his older brother and best friend, John Hamlyn Morgan III, had the run of a large wheat and corn farm in Denton County, and it was there that they learned early on the value of hard work.

Joe graduated in 1960 from Carrollton High School in Carrollton, Texas. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas (UT) at Austin in 1964 and his Doctor in Dental Surgery (DDS) from the UT Dental Branch at Houston in 1968. The newly minted Dr. Morgan then proudly served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Dental

Corps in Ft. Polk, Louisiana, followed by many years in the Army Reserves. In 1973, he completed his internship and residency program in Oral and Maxillofac­ial Surgery from the UT Medical Branch at Galveston.

In 1974, Joe moved to Houston, where he began his oral surgery practice at the Doctors’ Center Building in the Texas Medical Center. It was there that he became a team doctor for the Houston Oilers football franchise, and he thoroughly enjoyed spending Sunday afternoons on the sidelines at the Astrodome in the “Luv Ya Blue” era. Joe later moved his practice to the Greenpark One Profession­al Building and remained there until his retirement in March 2020.

Joe enjoyed practicing oral surgery, lifting weights at the downtown YMCA, all things UT Longhorn, sports cars, the beach, and a good meal – especially with family. Some of his most cherished childhood memories include working with his dad and brother on the farm and visiting his family each summer at Lake Hamilton in Arkansas.

A private family service is planned at Furneaux Cemetery in Denton County, where his father was caretaker and where Joe spent many hours in the North Texas heat maintainin­g the grounds.

Joe’s family includes: his wife, Theodorah DeFrancesc­o; his daughters, Kelly Morgan Cyphers (husband Stephen, and children, Nathan, Taylor, Reagan, Devyn and Sadie); and Kathryn Morgan Donelson (children, Sydney and Lucas); and Kelly and Kathryn’s mother, Judy Blanton Luthy; Joe’s nephew, John Hamlyn Morgan IV (wife, Tammy, and sons

Quinn and Ethan); and niece, Eileen Morgan (partner, Carl Silverstei­n).

Teddie’s family includes her children: Victoria vonFursten­berg (daughter, Maia); Richard vonFursten­berg

(wife, Jen, and children Joseph and Miko); Joseph vonFursten­berg (wife, Barbara); Maria Hilliker (husband, Robert, and children Anna, Carmela, Mary and Emmy June); and brother, R.H. Defran, who had a dear friendship with Joseph defined by laughter, love and mutual respect.

For the past twenty-five years, Joseph and Teddie have lived an extraordin­ary love story. Their greatest pleasure has been found in the beauty and intimacy of daily life. Home was their sanctuary, often filled with family, including many little ones who surrounded Joseph with affection and in whom he delighted.

Although he will be missed beyond measure, Joseph leaves behind a significan­t legacy and will be remembered always.

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