With more than 30 years on the job at Morgan’s Service station and their youngest daughter of four finally graduating high school, John and Connie Morgan decided to pack their bags and retire on the Sturgeon River in the Upper Peninsula.
‘I’m excited,? Connie said. ‘We’re ready to go live life.?
She is looking forward to kayaking, biking, camping and traveling.
‘And fishing,? added John. ‘We never had time to fish before.?
A small group of family and friends gathered at the Main Street service station on March 31 to send John and Connie off into retirement on a two-seater, tandem bike supplied by Kinetics Bike Shop, as well as congratulate Scott and his wife Marty McIntyre as the new owners.
‘We had a lot of people comeback for support today and that surprised me,? Connie said. ‘I didn’t know they’d miss us so much, so that will be hard.?
John said he knows Scott and Marty will do well.
‘I think Scott is the right guy,? said John ‘He’ll carry on the name (Morgan’s), he knows everyone real well and customers all like him.?
‘They always thought Scott was our son,? noted Connie. ‘Now they think Marty is our daughter, so it’s working.?
Scott, who has worked with John for the past 12 years, said they are ‘excited and apprehensive.?
‘It’s a pretty long history, which is a lot to look up to,? he said. ‘John and Connie are the greatest people in the world.?
Marty agreed.
‘They’re the best people you could ever have in your family or non-family. They’re part of our family,? she said. ‘They’ve been wonderful to me and Scott and our kids.?
John’s father, Richard, borrowed $200 from his father to buy the station in 1932 at 16 years old. With two older sisters, John was born when his parents were in their early 40s.
‘I guess I was a blessing for them,? he said. ‘He (dad) would have never been able to stay going. Of course he worked up until he was 90. I knew I wasn’t going to do that.?
John said his plan was to retire around 50 years old. He is now 52.
With tear-filled eyes, John said ‘I’d like to thank all the people in Clarkston for being so good to us.?