Vivian Aingworth Morgan, 87, died August 1, 2024 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.

Vivian was born May 4, 1937 in Los Angeles, California to Herbert and Helen Aingworth. She spent her early life moving between Los Angeles, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. She graduated from Tahlequah High School in 1955. She married George Morgan in 1956 and they lived in Tahlequah while he attended Northeastern State University. Their first child, John, was born there and after George's graduation they moved to Lake Jackson, Texas where their family grew with the addition of children Kathy, Jim, and Ruth.

The family returned to Oklahoma in 1968, settling in Stillwater where Vivian and George both attended Oklahoma State University. Vivian received Bachelor and Master degrees in Special Education. She was born into a family of educators with her mother, two aunts, and both grandmother and grandfather all teaching in the early days of Oklahoma's statehood. Vivian followed that tradition; she was one of the first special education teachers in Stillwater and taught her entire 26-year career at Skyline Elementary School. She received the honor of Teacher of the Year in 1973. As a teacher Vivian touched many lives, including the lives of her students and her fellow teachers. She was a mentor to new teachers and worked on the negotiating team for the OEA teachers' union where she fought to make conditions better for teachers and students and to provide quality education for all.

After her retirement Vivian was able to pursue her interests and passions. She was an avid reader and gardener, growing amazing flowers and the requisite tomato plants for summer BLT's. She was a lover of antiques and collectibles and she found joy in hunting for treasures in antique stores, yard sales, or wherever she could score a good find. Traveling to see her children and grandchildren on the west coast and going to Las Vegas with her husband George and sister Marianne was a big source of enjoyment for her. In her later years, she loved the frequent visits from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in her home.

Vivian was artistic and often crafted originally designed Christmas ornaments like angels made from scrap quilts. She was a talented cook who could create nearly the entire Thanksgiving dinner with little help from others, taking pride in doing a proper, from-scratch cornbread stuffing and gravy. Most of all, Vivian delighted in spending time with family, being a loving support and role model for standing up for those less fortunate, being kind, and living by the Golden Rule. She lived life with a levity and optimism that was infectious, always believing in the goodness of others and always in wonderment at the beauty of the natural world that surrounds us.

Vivian is predeceased by her parents, husband George, children John and Kathy, and sister Marianne Gifford. She is survived by her children Jim Morgan and wife Eve, Ruth Gelsey and husband Jon, grandchildren Marie Morgan and husband Ryan Besterwitch, Jameson Morgan, Nathaniel Morgan, Katherine Gelsey and Ellie Gelsey, great-grandchildren Georgie Besterwich, Amara Besterwitch and Raphael Besterwitch, and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

Those wishing to make a donation in Vivian's name may support Our Daily Bread Food and Resource Center of Stillwater, OK; or the UNICEF Kids in Need of Desks fund (K.I.N.D.); or lastly, Tiny Paws Kitten Rescue.