Raymond William Morgan

Raymond William Morgan, Jr. of Vinita, Oklahoma passed away quietly at home on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. He had received many visitors in the days and weeks before his passing and had the continuous support of his wife, Flora, throughout his illness.

Ray was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma on September 26, 1938 to Raymond and Betty Lou Morgan. When he was five, his mom married Clifford Beeman who became Dad. He was raised in Okmulgee and completed high school there, but Ray had wanderlust in his soul. He has lived many places across the United States and tried his hand at several different types of jobs, but his favorite job was as a radio disc jockey. He worked for several rock and roll stations across California, Montana, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Maybe his favorite job was because of his love of music or maybe his love of music was because of his favorite job. Rock and Roll was his favorite, but in searching through his collection one would also find blues, country, pop, and classical genres.

Anyone that ever had a conversation with Ray knew to be ready for him to break into some random song that the conversation had made him think of. There are many of his family and friends that have fond memories of those spontaneous song sessions with Ray. At family gatherings he would often break out in his disc jockey voice to make some announcement.

Besides music and travel, Ray had many other interests in life. He loved all things to do with trains, lucky for him that he and Flora could live in a house so close to the train tracks. He’s the only citizen of Vinita that was ever known to enjoy listening to the sound of the train whistle and the rattle of the tracks as the trains sped past. He collected movies and, like his CD collection, they were meticulously organized by genre. He also loved history and worked on his family genealogy.

There isn’t room here to explain the man; every time we share another story, someone else realizes that was something they didn’t know about him. He was a multi-faceted human being that may have surprised us in many ways, but we were never surprised by how deeply he loved his family and his pets. Each of those who spent time with him had their own special bond.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Betty Lou and Clifford Beeman of Vinita, Oklahoma; sister Lynda Francis of Ketchum, Oklahoma, and brother-in-law Doran Francis of Ketchum, Oklahoma.

He is survived by his wife Flora Morgan of the home, daughters Deborah Costa of Califonia and Donna Lou Morgan of California; stepson Elton Sunday and wife Robyn of Vinita, Oklahoma; stepson Billy Mack Sunday and Crystal of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Grandchildren are Bradlyn Belitz, Briana Costa, and Jeff Anderson with wife Andrea of California; Chisolm Standlee of Pryor, Oklahoma, Shea Standlee of Vinita, Oklahoma, Michael Sunday of Altus, Oklahoma, A’Lexus Sunday of Kansas City, Kansas, Kahlil Sunday of Vinita, Oklahoma, and Mariah Sunday of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Great grandchildren are Everett, Oliver, Jaden, Thomas, Logan, Aubrey Rose, Isaac, Zackery, Brodie, Jordan, and soon to be Iyla.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, May 24, 2026 at First Baptist Church of Vinita, 321 W. Illinois Street in Vinita. Online condolences may be made at www.honoringmemoriesvinita.com Arrangements are in the care of Luginbuel Funeral Home of Vinita. “Family owned. Locally operated.”