James David Morgan, 60, of Portsmouth, passed away on Friday, November 1, 2024, at the OSU Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. David was born to the late James Carter and Paula Kaye Chapman Morgan on December 23, 1963, in Georgetown, OH.
A 1983 Portsmouth High School graduate, David received his first drum set at age eight and he became an incredibly talented drummer. He was on the award-winning PHS Drum Line while in school, and then worked for many years as a professional musician. David, a member of the Kiss Army, began playing rock before transitioning to country music. He played for well-known bands including The Shelpman Brothers, Cry Wolf, Gibson Lane, The Campbell Sisters and Flint. One of his many drum sets was featured as “Drum Set of the Month” by Modern Drummer magazine.
David had also worked as an HVAC installer for the former Stevens Construction Company, and he was Star Trek Trekkie. He and his wife, Beth, were active with the Portsmouth Area Jaycees for many years and they later enjoyed camping with their two sons as a family. He loved spending time with his boys during their scouting years as well.
Surviving is his wife, Beth Ann Cornett Morgan, whom he married on May 3, 1986, in Lucasville; two sons, Christopher (Emmalee) Morgan of South Shore, KY, and Tyler Morgan of Portsmouth; his granddaughter, Madeleine Morgan; best friends who were more like brothers, Pete Orlett of Cincinnati and Jim Orlett of Columbus; and several nieces, nephews and their families.
In addition to his parents, David was preceded in death by four siblings, Denise Louise Hammer, James Daniel Morgan, James Dane Morgan and James Zachariah Morgan.
Funeral services will be held at 1 P.M. on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth with Pastor David Colegrove officiating.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 11 A.M. until the service hour.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Transplant Foundation at americantransplantfoundation.org.
