Morgan Pope
Age - 86
November 30, 2023
Morgan Dean Pope - 4/29/37 - 11/3/23 Morgan Dean Pope, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away on November 3, 2023 at the age of 86, at his residence at the Touchmark of the West Hills, Portland, OR. Morgan grew up as an only child, born on April 29, 1937 to Walter Morgan Pope, and Hazel Alice (Sullivan) Pope, in Bagnell, MO. He graduated from the School of the Osage, Lake Ozark, MO, in 1955, then went on to the University of Missouri, where he earned a B. S. in Physics, and met the love of his life, Constance Gayle Clark. Morgan joined the ROTC, and after serving in the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant, completed his Masters in Physics and Mathematics from New Mexico Highlands University in 1962. Morgan and Connie married in 1960. They moved to Portland, OR, when Morgan was offered a job at Tektronix, Inc. He worked there for 28 years, first as a physicist and later as manager in research and development. During that time he and Connie raised two sons, Clark and Sean, and made lifelong family friends with many of his co-workers. He took an early retirement and started a consulting company, MDP Associates, working with Portland Development Commission and other agencies doing technology and workforce assessments and working on economic development issues. He joined Portland State University in 1990, wearing a few hats there. Director of University/Industry relations, Associate Dean of Outreach, and a Vice President for the College of Engineering and Computer Science. He retired in 2004, or tried to, but was convinced by the administration to return, and he became instrumental in the planning and completion of the new Engineering Building. It opened in 2006, when Morgan took his 3rd, and final retirement. Whether at school, working, or retired, Morgan had many interests and talents. He learned to fish as a young child with his father and grandfather. He became somewhat obsessed with fly-fishing as an adult, acquiring and building many fishing rods, and tying countless flies. He played several folk instruments, banjo, guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, bodhran, and eventually took to building those too. Other woodworking endeavors included furniture, carved figurines, and lathework. An avid photographer, when the astronomy bug also hit, he built his telescopes with camera attachments, and added the sun and the moon to his favorite photo subjects. A consummate athlete in his younger days, Morgan kept his eye on the ball through the years - coached or refereed his sons' soccer/basketball teams. When grandchildren took up the same sports, he and Connie rarely missed a game, rain or shine. He captained many family adventures, beach trips, ski trips, hiking, fishing, or sailing. Their road trip to the Southwest, and many Missouri and Iowa trips to visit the Pope and Clark families, held fond memories for him and the whole family. Morgan and Connie enjoyed European travel, soaking up the history, museums, architecture, music and natural wonders of other lands. He and Connie both did extensive genealogical research tracing their families back many generations, and visited Sweden, Ireland in search of their past. Morgan and Connie learned more about their Scandinavian heritage through their connection with Nordic NW, (Scandinavian Heritage Society), attending and volunteering at various events, and Morgan served on the board. A longtime supporter of the arts, and social, political, educational & environmental causes, Morgan was a familiar figure at conferences, fundraisers and special events downtown. After moving from inner Portland to an old farmhouse south of Hillsboro, he and Connie spent many years embracing a more rural lifestyle. Much time was spent tending the Pope acreage with its bounty of fruit trees and other produce, the annual cider pressing, acres of mowing, feeding his bluebirds and hummingbirds, watching the hawks and vultures soar, and hunting his most unwanted guests, gophers and voles! He enjoyed the sunrises, sunsets, and on a clear day, the perfect view of Mt Hood and 6 other mountains from their hillside home. He loved folktales, oral and written history, and after retirement, set to writing his own. Short stories and poems about his life, and random philosophical musings. The family is happy to have those writings. It keeps him close. Morgan was a caring son, a loving husband, a devoted father and proud grandfather. He was an enthusiastic mentor and a steadfast friend. Passionate about education, serious about problem solving, opinionated and not afraid to show it, but always ready with a joke and a smile, a shoulder to lean on, or some sage advice. He will be remembered and missed by everyone he touched. Morgan is survived by his wife, Constance Gayle Pope; son Sean Sullivan Pope, son Morgan Clark Pope & daughter-in-law Carrie Frances White, (all of Portland, OR); granddaughter Scout Edie Cohen Pope & Scott Steinhouse (Bellingham WA); grandson Sullivan Cohen Pope & Cascade Hall (Bellingham / Seattle WA). Surviving extended family includes cousins: Charlie & Gerri Pope, Bert & Joanna Pope, Susan Pope, Shirley Kleidosty, Judy Thornsberry; brother-in-law: James N. Clark; nieces/nephews: Melanie & Neal Tomlinson, James R. Clark & Carol Fleenor, Lisa Clark & Lori Malkoff; and dear friend since 1st grade: Jody Neuman A Celebration Life for friends and family will be held on Sunday, February 4th, 2024, from 2:30 - 6:00 pm at the Nordia House, 8800 SW Oleson Rd. Portland, OR 97223. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: School of the Osage Foundation PO Box 2143 Lake Ozark, MO 65049 The Foundation supports Morgan's Alma mater, by providing funding for scholarships and infrastructure projects. Website is currently under construction Southern Poverty Law Center 400 Washington Ave Montgomery, AL 36104 . https://www. splcenter. org/Show more
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