Cathleen Casale Morgan (June 8, 1961 – May 8, 2025)

Cathleen Morgan passed away peacefully on May 8, 2025. Born in Erie PA on June 8, 1961, to John Francis and Mary Moore Casale, she was the beloved middle child survived by her older brother, John and younger brother Charles. John Sr. relocated the family to Laurinburg, North Carolina when the children were quite young seeking a nurturing small-town Catholic environment to raise their young family.

Cathleen’s childhood was steeped in family values and community, centered around Laurinburg’s St. Mary Catholic Church. Annual summer vacations to the beach became a cherished family tradition. A bright and driven student, Cathleen graduated high school and followed her brother John to Appalachian State University, where she excelled in her Marketing studies, showcasing her natural charisma and intellect.

After college, Cathleen returned to Laurinburg to support her family during her father’s medical challenges. On a birthday outing with friends, she met Randy Morgan, her future husband. They married on November 18, 1989, at St. Mary Catholic Church and settled in Raleigh, North Carolina, where Cathleen worked while Randy pursued his engineering degree. After Randy completed his studies, the couple moved to Houston, Texas, where Cathleen thrived in commercial real estate. Her Southern charm, radiant smile, and photographic memory made her a natural, securing the best deals for her clients. Known for her thoughtfulness, Cathleen lived by the example of her parents, always eager to help those in need.

In July 2003, Cathleen’s life changed dramatically when she was nearly killed in a head-on collision caused by high school boys racing on a rural road. The accident left her with a traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, requiring 16 months of treatment at the Texas Medical Center. Despite emerging severely disabled, Cathleen faced her new reality with unwavering faith, humor, and determination. Over the next 22 years, she endured countless hospital stays, therapies, and surgeries, yet her spirit remained unbroken.

In her final years, though marked by pain and challenges, Cathleen’s warmth never faded. She delighted in sharing new jokes with her friends, family, nurses and aides, and always expressed gratitude. She never lost her competitive side and loved playing bingo, cards and outwitting family and friends in online dominoes. Her resilience, humor, and generosity touched countless lives.

Cathleen is survived by her devoted husband, Randy Morgan; her brothers, John and Charles Casale; and a community of friends and loved ones who will forever cherish her legacy of kindness and strength. A funeral mass will be held at St Mary Catholic Church in League City TX followed by interment at the Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Dickinson TX. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation for Spinal Cord Injuries.