This morning at 9:30 am April passed away to claps of thunder and her loving family’s prayers and well wishes as she begins her new journey.
Her obituary as I wrote it:
April Denise Morgan, born June 18th, 1974 to Paul and Barbara Morgan, passed away 9:30 AM, August 20 after a two-year battle with metastatic breast cancer.
Though April didn’t set out to project the “fighter” persona, her warm, capable and cheerful spirit was a perennial ray of sunshine, dealing a day in, day out blow to her cancer – regardless of whether it would ultimately take her body. Likewise, April never allowed chemotherapy, pain, or limited time to interfere with her sense of purpose and her dedication to her position serving students at Pellissippi State Technical Community College.
April loved nature, science, live music, water, and fashion. She was also a voracious reader – devouring books on art, history, nature, philosophy, and the literature of Southern women and the Harlem Rennaisance, among others.
For those who didn’t know April, the best testiment we can offer to explain her life was her reaction to hearing that she was in the last stage of her disease. “Well, let’s think about this,” April said after we’d had time to absorb the news from her doctor. “I’d like to have a house party blow-out, with all the people I love.”
And, the best explanation we can offer for how people felt about April is that less than 24 hours after her request for a party, there were 3 wedding tents set up in her parents’ back yard, providing shade and shelter for 2 Cajun shrimp boils, tropical island-themed decorations, island music and a sandy beach complete with 80 adoring guests ready to celebrate her life with her.
“That was better than most wedding receptions I’ve been to” was a common comment among those celebrating. And truly, it was an indication of the love and dedication that her friends and family feel towards her, knowing her to be one of the bravest, warmest souls we’ve ever had the privilege to have in our lives.
April left behind her loving husband of 9 years, Mac Bartine, her parents Paul and Barbara Morgan, her grandmother Sylvia Payne, her sister Marsha Morgan Smith, brother-in-law Chris Smith, adorable new nephew Townsend Smith, and sisters-in-spirit Karen Claussen Bishop and Valerie Smith Collins, along with too many other dear friends and family to be able to mention in one brief article.
She will be dearly missed – never forgotten by her beloved.
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
No Mac – she’ll never be forgotten. We were lucky to have her as long as we did. We love you.
We are so sorry for your loss. We feel blessed to know such a wonderful soul like April. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Derek and Carrie Witt
I believe that when I don’t know what to say, I should just say, I love you. So, I love you Mac. My life is better because you introduced me to April. Peace.
Dear Mac,
We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. Thank you for sharing your intermost thoughts over the past 2 years, we were inspired by your courage and strength.
Love,
Bryan & Lisa Marshall
Dearest Mac,
Paul and I are so very sorry for your loss and April’s battle. It’s hard to know what to say other than please take care of yourself, god be with you, your family and friends, and we know he is with April.
Love,
Cousin Jen
Mac,
I didn’t know April very well, but knew, through you, the incredible love you had for her. May you find peace and share with family and friends the wonderful memories of your beautiful wife.
You are in our many prayers,
Cathy & Mark
April was an incredible friend and woman. I’m glad she knew a love like yours Mac.
Mac,
I only got to meet April once, in 2006, when we had our reunion in Chattanooga. I will never forget our day at the aquarium, and April’s vast knowledge of the aquatic creatures. She was a delight.
Mostly, I remember the love the two of you displayed for each other. I know that love will live on in you and help you through this time. Bill and I are so sorry for your loss.
Karla Pitzen
Mac,
I’m so sorry.
JT
Mac, You and April have been in my thoughts and prayers, and will continue to stay there. You have both shown incredible strength, and I know her strength and love will live on in you. Much love. Danielle
Mac,
I don’t know if you’ll remember me or not, I believe we’ve only met once. I used to work with April at Fountainhead College. She was a fun spirit to have known and I’m sure will be a bright star in heaven. My wife and I are deeply sorry for your and your families’ loss.
Dan and Holly Thompson
Mac,
Larry and I are so sorry to hear of your loss.
We are proud of the way you stepped up to meet each challenge. Your love for April and the care you gave her was a wonderful gift. She knew how very much she was loved — and that was the most precious gift of all.
Kathy Abbott (Jason’s mother)
Etowah, TN
Mac:
Our deepest condolences, friend.
Jason and Heather
Cousin Mac,
I will never forget dancing in the rain at your wedding to April…
It was absolutely magical.
As I know these 8 years have been for you, just knowing her.
Your courage, compassion and true dedication remind me of why I do what I do.
And your eloquent obituary, well, I know it will reach April. And many others.
God bless you, and say good bye for me.
Dr. Donna
I have loved working with April for the past 3+ years. I will miss her smile, her gentle way, and her obvious love for life. I know that the care she has shown towards students at Pellissippi State will stay with them forever. I am so sorry for this loss to all of us. God bless you, Mac, and thanks for sharing your love story.
As I told you earlier, I have no words. Wrapping our minds around this is going to be challenging, to say the least. Cannot begin to imagine how you will. No words, buddy. Hang in there. We are all thinking of you. We are here for you.
Donna Hanes 08.20.09 at 7:33 pm
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Cousin Mac,
I will never forget dancing in the rain at your wedding to April…
It was absolutely magical.
As I know these 8 years have been for you, just knowing her.
Your courage, compassion and true dedication remind me of why I do what I do.
And your eloquent obituary, well, I know it will reach April. And many others.
God bless you, and say good bye for me.
Dr. Donna
April will be greatly missed. She was a strong woman with tremendous character and a wonderful personality. I grieve with the countless lives that April touched over her too-short life. Mac, you and your family remain in my thoughts and prayers.
-Pete
Mac, I regret that I never had the chance to meet April; but I feel as if I knew her through your beautiful, loving story during the past two years. You kept your vow through sickness and in health in such a tender, devoted manner. May your faith sustain you in this very sad time, and may you be comforted by all the precious, precious memories as well as knowing that you and April tried to beat this with every fiber of your being. We hold you in our hearts.
Mac,
Thank you for sharing your journey with your dear wife. I did not know April personally, but grew to know that she was a woman of extreme courage and tenacity by reading your words. Your love and devotion to April was obvious and touching.
I send my heartfelt condolences to you and April’s family.
Peggy
your mom’s cousin
Mac,
It simply amazes me Mac, the man you have become since you met April. You have a beautiful depth that I attribute significantly to April’s influence on you. I sincerely believe that April will continue to work through you and guide you with her strength on your life journey. Your love story with April isn’t ending , Mac. It will always endure in you and also in a sacred corner of all our hearts and memories. Your love and marriage was both yours and April’s best life work.
I know I speak on behalf of all of your loved ones that we are all so blessed to have had April
in our lives as she has affected us all in different and unique ways. Mostly though we are
privileged to have witnessed such a true testimony of love in your marriage.
I thank you sincerely for this everlasting gift.
We love you and we will always be here for you.
Francesca, Mark and Drew
Mac,
I celebrate April’s life today and am thankful that I was blessed to be a witness to the amazing love shared between you two. Even though April’s body is at rest, I think we all know that her spirit is already hard at work! You, your family, and friends are in my thoughts and prayers Mac.
Peace my friend,
Chad
Mac,
I am very sorry that April has lost her battle with cancer. Although I have not been part of your lives for awhile, both of you have always been in my prayers. The incredible strength that both of you showed along the way as I followed your journey through this website was amazing. This world has truly lost a wonderful woman.
God Bless,
Doug
Mac,
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your lovely wife. It sounds like you were blessed with a wonderful mate. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family.
Steve
“Well, let’s think about this,” I love that Mac. You nailed it. She will be greatly missed.
tam in Memphis.
Mac, I speak for all of us here at Fountainhead College when I say that we are very sorry for your loss. April was loved and respected by everyone here and will truly be missed. April had a great personality and made us all smile. We are all glad to have known her and able to work with her.
I’m so sorry to hear about April’s passing. I wasn’t even aware of her illness until Karla let us know. I’ll be thinking about you, Mac, and the rest of April’s family and friends.
Mac,
I am so sorry for your loss. She sounds like a wonderful person. My prayers are with you and her family.
Take care,
Diana
Mac,
Alan and I are so sorry for your loss. April will be truly missed. You and the families are in our prayers.
Mac and family,
I was honored to have had the privilege to be a part of Team April at the Race for the Cure 2 years ago along with her cousin Tammy and the rest of the Morgan clan. Not only was it my first and only 5k, but it was the first time I met you and April. And although she had recently lost her hair, it wasn’t her bald head with a cap on that I noticed about her but it was her soulful eyes filled with a sweet and fighting spirit. I admired her will to live and the loving support you and the rest of her family gave her. It broke my heart to hear the news of her passing yesterday but I know God must have needed another angel in Heaven. Hold your precious memories with her close to your heart and know you are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Kristen Jones
Proud Member of Team April
Although I only met April one time (at the Tinarewan concert), I feel like I have grown to know her through your honest and loving words. Thank you for sharing your lives (and life lessons) with us. My heart aches for you — know that you are loved.
peace, kat
I wish it didn’t go this way. Somehow I expected a full recovery, eventually.
April’s idea to have one last party is very, very inspiring. I don’t know how often that kind of thing happens; it ought to be as standard practice as a funeral service but it’s probably not.
It occurs to me that the reason a lot of us instinctively focus so much mental energy on our jobs and hobbies is to crowd thoughts of mortality out of our brains. This morning reading your blog I’m confronted with the certainty that me and everyone I know and love will follow April to the other side before too long. I think it’ll be hard for me to go on and do something “productive” today. But Mac, if I can just let you know how important you are to me, the giant role you play in a lot of my favorite memories, the day won’t be lost.
April was so courageous to have that party. She must have expected that death would at least end all the hassle of trying to keep positive thoughts on top of the fear and sadness. But she must also have worried that she wouldn’t be able to take any pleasant memories with her, either. In that case, why have a party? Why not just watch television? I think maybe deep down inside she had that party for us, so that we wouldn’t be so scared of losing her, and more generally of losing all our friends and all our good memories. And the reason for trying to minimize the suffering of others is love, right? The greatest thing of which we humans are capable? So in a way she did finally beat cancer, because she refused to let it consume her spirit; she threw a party.
Mac,
You and April are an inspiration for all of us. You have been through so much in your short 9 years together. I wish I knew April but never had the opportunity to meet her. You know how much you and April are loved and cared for. I pray you are both at peace and you have a huge network of friends who will help you through this. I won’t get to see you every day anymore but I am only a phone call away or email away!
Love,
Jennifer, Dave and Emma Hunt
I didn’t know personally know April, but the love in the room at her memorial service was tremendous. Stories I heard that day, plus the stories her wonderful sister Marsha shared with me (Frankenboob!) live on in me too.
Thinking extra special thoughts and sending good vibes your way during this anniversary week of remembrance and reflection.
Thanks, Debra – I’ll take all the good vibes I can get.