Oyer C. Morgan passed away at Saint Peters Hospital on January 29, 2016. Oyer’s grandparents came to the Worland area in the late 1800s. His mother came later as a school teacher from Missouri. Oyer was born on February 4, 1928 to Helen and Noel Morgan in Worland, Wyoming. He was the youngest of five siblings. He attended Worland schools, graduating from Washakie County High School in 1946.
After graduating, he enlisted in the United States Army, joining his brothers Leon (Air Force) and Al (Navy) in military service. He served from 1946 to 1949, including a tour of duty in Hawaii while it was still a territory. He liked to joke that this tour qualified him for the distinction of serving overseas. He achieved the rank of Sergeant.
During his youth, he attended church at the Worland United Methodist Church. The pastor of the time had an impact on his career choice. Though his father wanted Oyer to follow in his footsteps and become a lawyer, his son chose the ministry instead. On discharge, Oyer attended Asbury University, located in Wilmore, Kentucky. He met Modelle, his loving wife of almost 50 years at Asbury. He received his BA degree from Asbury and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1956. Oyer was ordained into the United Methodist Church ministry in 1954.
Modelle and Oyer married in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, August 27, 1953. They served several rural Kentucky churches while he was finishing his degree. In 1957, they moved westward to Wyoming with two small children, Clark and Beth. One of the two churches they first served was located in tiny Hyattville, Wyoming where his grandfather had first settled long years earlier.
Another child, Greg, was born and shortly thereafter the family moved to the southwestern Wyoming town of Rock Springs. Here, Oyer had the opportunity to lead his congregation in the planning and construction of an entirely new church building. After 11 event-filled years in Rock Springs, the family moved to Billings, Montana to serve the Billings Evangelical United Methodist Church. In 1977, he and Modelle moved to Choteau, Montana to serve the Choteau and Pendroy churches. His last appointment was the East Helena United Methodist Church. During his tenure, the church was expanded by a 150-seat sanctuary. This required the combination of his leadership and the congregation’s commitment. He retired from active ministry in 1994 after 40 years of ministry.
What does a minister, who works weekends, do after retirement? He first toured Israel. He and Modelle did some traveling in the states. After Clark and Beth dragged him to Alaska, he could say, he had been to all 50 states. He became very interested in genealogy and traveled to gather information on his and Modelle’s families, communicating with the many contacts he developed. He was very interested in his grandsons and traveled to see them. He and Modelle began square dancing, which he continued even after her death in 2002. He was a member of the Last Chance Squares. He also had membership in the Lewis and Clark Genealogical Society and Helena Pachyderms. He continued to be active in the church.
He is survived by their three children: Clark (Georgia); Greg (Lisa) and Beth; three grandchildren: Zachary, Nicholas, and Ryan; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by Modelle, his parents, and his four siblings. His ashes will be buried at a later date in Worland next to Modelle, his parents, and two siblings.
A viewing will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 5th, 2016 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave., with the family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A Funeral Service is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 6th, 2016 at the East Helena United Methodist Church, 50 Prickley Pear Ave N., in East Helena. A reception will follow the service at the church. He will be laid to rest in the family plot in Worland, Wyoming at a later date.
Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Oyer.
Service Schedule
Viewing
12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday February 5, 2016
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Family Receiving Friends
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday February 5, 2016
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Saturday February 6, 2016
East Helena United Methodist Church
50 Prickley Pear Ave. N
East Helena, Montana 59635
Reception
After the service
Saturday February 6, 2016
East Helena United Methodist Church
50 Prickley Pear Ave. N
East Helena, Montana 59635
Service Schedule
Viewing
12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday February 5, 2016
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Family Receiving Friends
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday February 5, 2016
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Saturday February 6, 2016
East Helena United Methodist Church
50 Prickley Pear Ave. N
East Helena, Montana 59635
Reception
After the service
Saturday February 6, 2016
East Helena United Methodist Church
50 Prickley Pear Ave. N
East Helena, Montana 59635
Share
Pat Johnston Ross says
So sorry for your loss. I knew Oyer from many Koinonia weekends. He was a very special msn and will be greatly missed by many.
Tonna Strasko says
Family of Oyer,
We are so sorry to hear about Oyer’s passing. Oyer was one of the Spiritual Director’s when I was lay leader on K-23 for a very special Koinonia weekend. Oyer said his mind and preached God’s word. God bless you all.
Rev. Su DeBree says
Oyer was a faithful friend and supporter of all in ministry, whether clergy or lay people. His memory will always be a blessing to me.
Larry Shriver says
Oyer was our Pastor at Evangelical United Methodist Church in Billings back in the early 70’s My wife, June, was his secretary. He was a loving, generous, caring man. We really missed him when he was transferred. Again he will be missed, but now he will be joining the Lord, and will be reunited with Modelle.
You will be greatly missed, old and dear friend.
Larry and June Shriver
Debra Payne & Mardell Payne says
My mother, Mardell and Modelle were the best of friends in Rock Springs and I attended high school with Clark. Our hearts are with the entire family during this time of loss. Oyer was always interested in what you were doing and remembered everything discussed. He was a dear person to us and Mardell will be sad to hear this. She is now 100!
John and JoAnne Gillespie says
Modelle and I graduated from Louisville General Hospital School of Nursing in 1950. We were both honor students and Modelle made a great impression on my life. She and Oyer then moved to Covington, Ky. where he led a Church in the Ida Spence Homes and actually built the Church there. He was then called back to Wyoming and we visited them there on a trip to Yellow Stone Park, we visited their home and attended Church with them. He bravely waited to go home to be with Modelle in Heaven, Now they are together and we will honor and cherish our friendship with them. John and JoAnne Gillespie
Donald D. Beeson says
Oyer and I became connected through our interest in the family genealogy connecting Emma Josephine Morgan Beeson, daughter of Anson Morgan a Civil War casualty at Corinth, MS. It was my great pleasure to meet and correspond over many years with my distant cousin. My sincere sympathy to all of the Morgan family as they gather together to reflect upon the wonerful aspects and accomplishment of Morgan and those of his beloved wife Modelle.
Rev. John Soderberg says
I give thanks for Oyer, his ministry to others, his robust encouragement to me and other colleagues in ministry. Donna and I will be present in spirit with all who gather to celebrate his life on Saturday.
John Hickman says
Oyer and I were roommates at Asbury College (now University). After he met Modelle, the two of them and June (my wife) and I double dated. I was best man at his wedding in 1953, and he was best man at my wedding in 1954. My family and I visited him and Modelle in Montana in 1972. We have not seen him since, but we remained in contact through letters and email since then. We will miss those letters. We thank God for Oyer and Modelle and their ministry. He will be missed by his family and many friends.
Rev. John Hickman, Columbus, OH
Judy Olson says
Oyer and Modelle were a special part of our family for years. They were very close to my parents, Helen and Chris Christensen. We were especially fortunate to enjoy Oyer’s Christmas Eve services and then a fun evening with him and Modelle at my parent’s house on Christmas Eve. Oyer remained a very special spiritual counselor for my mother until her death almost 4 years ago. What a reunion they must all be having in heaven! You were blessed with very special parents.
janie says
I am so sorry for your loss, Please accept my sincere sympahies. I know we all take comfort that the family circle is unbroken. Your parents were always a comfort and wonder to me.
janie
Julie McCartney-Brantley says
Greg:
I am so sorry to read of your Dad’s passing … What a guy.
I know losing our last parent is so very hard – life-changing.
I pray comforts your aching heart …
Eleanor Drazovich says
What a wonderful man he was! He did so much for the Rock Springs church and community and I doubt the church would have been built without his leadershjp. There were many good times shared with him and Modelle . I ,and my son Bob, send our deepest sympathy to all 3 of you. We remember you well and would love to catch up on news of your current lives. May all the good memories bring you much comfort.
Eleanor Drazovich
Marin and Peggy Streeter says
I felt the need to search today. I testified of Modelle’s love for Jesus at Bible Study today. We attended church with them in East Helena in 1980, our entire family was baptized by Oyer and we dearly loved him and his sweet wife. We are happy to rejoice that they are in heaven, together.