Roger Morrell, 72

Roger L. Morrell, age 72 of Montpelier passed away May 10, 2014 after a 3+ year battle with cancer.  Born Roger LeRoy Morrell August 8, 1941 in Argos, Indiana to Gabriel and Rose Ellen (Jones) Morrell.  He attended school in Argos, Indiana and was an avid basketball and baseball player.

In 1966 he began his career with the Wabash Railroad as an engineer.  He continued with the Norfolk and Western Railroad and later with Norfolk Southern Railroad for 36 years retiring in 2002.  He spent winters in Lutz, Florida at the Encore RV Park where he was the Activities Director for 5 years.  This winter he organized, planned and put on dinners for the residents of the park and gave all the profits to local charities.  The last dinner was about a month before he passed.  He enjoyed spending time with his good friends at the park.

Roger loved playing golf, watching horse races, all sports, going to the fair and flea markets and travelling.  One of the most memorable times was taking the motor home on “The World’s Longest Garage Sale” with his wife Kimberly who he married September 3, 2000 at Sauder Village and she survives.

He is also survived by three daughters, Heather Gauden of Montpelier, Heidi Goebel of Evanston, Illinois and Julie (Kevin) Smith of Kokomo, Indiana; two sons, Jeff (Lane) Morrell of Colorado and Jon (Gina) Morrell of Florida; a son-in-law James Gauden; one brother-in-law Rick (Linda) Peerboom of St. Petersburg, Florida; ten grandchildren, Mason, Sage and Levi Gauden of Montpelier, Kyle and Sarah Smith of Indiana, John Boyer of Illinois, Jordan and Logan Morrell of Florida and Jasmine and Brittin Morrell of Colorado.

He was preceded in death by his parents and mother-in-law Rosemary Peerboom.
In lieu of flowers, preferred memorials are to the Williams County Fair Foundation, Montpelier Senior Center or “Old Friends” – a retirement home for race horses at 1841 Paynes Depot Rd., Georgetown, Kentucky 40324.

Visitation for Roger will be Thursday May 15th from 6-8pm at the Thompson Funeral Home on Main Street in Montpelier.  Funeral Services will be on Friday at 1pm at the funeral home with Lead Pastor Ross Johnson of Gathering Points Church in Land O’ Lakes, Florida to officiate.