Helen Brown Morgan

is honored with a Brick from Nan Porter.

Helen Cordelia Brown, oldest child and only daughter of Helen Pratt and George McKibbin Brown, born Aug. 19, 1910 in Wichita, Kansas. Married Lindsey George Morgan Dec. 16, 1933, died July 19, 1966. Children: Patricia Lee, Margo Nan, Lindsey Kay, Cynthia Sue, Michael Harry, and Harry Hoffman. Grandchildren: Taylor Linden, Rebecca Lynn, Melissa Kay and Amy Elizabeth Porter: Gretchen Lynne, Ericca Anne and James Morgan Hoffman: William Morgan and Michael Lee Holleman: Michael Lindsey Morgan: Michael David, Kristen Leigh and Jennifer Lyn Morgan. She grew up in Wichita, attended Bradford College, Katherine Gibbs Business school in Boston and U.C.L.A. She was a member of the Junior League of Wichita and the Mental Health Association. The last few years she spent many happy hours working in the St. James bookstore.

She was such a stoic that I really never knew her until later, reminiscing with my siblings and rehashing her remarks and actions. She was a strong woman with a low-keyed way of getting her way in most situations. But every now and then the almost passive facade was pushed aside; and, she made her dislikes known with memorable, cryptic statements. To this day, like her, I hate phony attitudes and hypocrisy and I have no compunctions about making this known or removing myself from the situation. I love my mother for giving me the strength to so do. ----Pat

Some of her gifts - a wicked sense of humor (Charles Addams, Tom Lehrer, Don Marquis were favorites), an independent spirit ( western pants, Dr. Seus,walking in the exits ), a great mind (Bud always said she was the smartest person he knew), a love and appreciation for the aesthetic (operas on Saturdays), and a tremendous sense of family and the role of rituals.(Xmas mirrors, parties, games.) Basically an introvert herself, she appreciated and encouraged extroversion in others, especially in Lindsey and her children. She always answered questions honestly and openly but you had to ask. She disliked controlling or being controlled. She was a wonderful friend when I became an adult, always a good listener and always there for me with a non-judgemental ear. I still miss her company. ---Nan

Dinner at our house was very different from dinner in many homes today. We had a large table and every night there was a sit down dinner with Mom at one end , Pop at the other, we six kids around the sides and anyone else who we happened to invite at the last minute. There was always room for one more. The atmosphere was one of lively conversation and friends loved to come to the Morgan house. Today some of these same friends and I get together, 45 years later. Their memories of Mom always amaze me. It wasn't until I grew up that I could appreciate that positive impact she had on those around her---Kay

She did not set herself above others. This underscored who she was. Three words come to mind, integrity, generosity, and love. She had a great inner strength that allowed her to live her life with integrity. Anyone who was around her understood the principles by which she lived her life. She was generous with all she had, herself, her home, and her resources. Although she was not a demonstrative woman, she accepted each child as a unique person and guided us with unspoken love and respect and by setting an example---Sue

Mom was direct. We kind of adopted a high school buddy whose family moved to Houston when he was a junior in high school. Bob became another son. One evening he brought his new girl friend, a bimbo, by the house to meet mom. She took him into the kitchen and told him to never bring that "bitch" to our house again. She always looked out for us and he listened.---Mike

Swirling cigarette smoke, Mom playing solitaire or working a crossword puzzle, wearing her light blue trousers and waiting.---Harry

Submitted by Nan Porter