John Athos Morgan

Bountiful–John Athos Morgan, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away at his home on Monday, November 9, 2015, following a long battle with congestive heart failure. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing.
John was born on March 25, 1940, to Gilbert Lee and Agnes Snow Killpack Morgan in Culver City, California, the third of seven children.  After graduating from high school, he joined the Army Reserves before accepting a call to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Central America. After his mission he attended the University of California at Northridge, where he earned a degree in Music Education.  In 1965 he married Sharon Lee Richards in the Los Angeles Temple.  After completing his education, John and Sharon moved to Coalville, Utah, where he had accepted his first teaching job as the head of the Performing Arts Department at North Summit High School. He taught there for five years before moving his family to Bountiful, Utah.  The rest of his teaching career was spent at Bountiful Jr. High School, where he taught choir and Utah history for 33 years.  His passion for music influenced the lives of hundreds of students.
John loved his family more than anything else in his life. He was blessed with 6 children: Angela (Michael), Daniel (Vicki), Matthew (Jill), Jared (Amanda), Emily (Curt), and Sarah (Stephen).  He was a loving and inspired father who taught his children music and the gospel of Jesus Christ. One of the highlights of his musical career occurred when he was asked to arrange music for and conduct a choir of men and boys for the 163rd Priesthood Commemoration Fireside for the LDS church. John loved the restored gospel.  He served in positions of leadership and was a master gospel teacher, but he gave his most profound service to the Church through his musical talents.
John is survived by Sharon, his wife of 50 years, his siblings Larry, Lynn, Melba, David, and Jenny, and all of his children, 18 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and by his brother Paul.  
Funeral services will be held at the Bountiful Tabernacle, 51 S Main Street, on Monday, November 16, at 12:00 noon.  There will be a public viewing on Sunday, November 15, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary in Bountiful, and from 10:30-11:30 a.m.  on Monday at the Bountiful Tabernacle. Following the funeral, burial services will be held at the Bountiful City Cemetery.  John's family wishes to thank all those who have expressed love and sympathy for his passing, with special thanks to the staff of South Davis Community Hospital for their tender care, especially hospice nurse Holly Bowerman, and to Bishop Ryan Roberts and members of the Bountiful 3rd Ward for their support and service.