LYME, CT—1/11 UPDATED with full obituary and photo: Morgan Stiles Ely, 88, of Lyme, passed away of natural causes Dec. 31, 2023, while surrounded by his family and loved ones. Morgan was born Aug. 25, 1935, to Ernest Stiles Ely and Dorothy Winship of New London.
He grew up in Southeastern Connecticut, graduating from Admiral Billard Academy in 1953. Morgan accomplished his undergraduate work at the United States Coast Guard Academy and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, achieving his Bachelor of Science degree. Upon graduation, Morgan joined the civil engineering core of the U.S. Navy, the Seabees, embarking on 33 years of dedicated service between both active duty and the naval reserves. During his time with the Navy, he achieved the rank of commander, served in three campaigns in Vietnam, and even found the love of his life along the way. In 1961, while stationed at Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico, he met Angeles Correa on Luquillo Beach. They wed in 1962, going on to have two children, their son Ernest Stiles and their daughter Elizabeth Ann.
After completing his active-duty service, Morgan earned two more degrees, both from Utah State University. He earned a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Morgan joined Bechtel Engineering Corp. and traveled with his family to Alaska to help build the Alaskan pipeline, an adventure that stands large in the memory of those he leaves behind. After leaving Alaska, he served as an engineer and oversaw the construction of both the Limerick and Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plants in Pennsylvania.
Morgan and family settled down in his ancestral home of Lyme in 1980, building his forever home on Hart Hill on Rogers Lake. He worked as the chief of design and review for the State of Connecticut, overseeing the construction of all public buildings in the state. He later managed and oversaw the Rocky Hill Veterans Home and Hospital before retiring in 1998. Morgan was a man of great values, moral fortitude and tremendous work ethic. He cared about his fellow man more than most and showed this care and consideration through action. He took people in at their worst and taught them how to be their best, and if you ever faced adversity, he would refuse to allow you to face it alone. He inspired others to be more than the sum of their parts and continues to be an aspirational beacon of nurturing and leadership even after his departure from us.
Throughout his life, Morgan spent his free time skiing, diving and flying. He had a deep love for sailing, especially in his sailboat, “the Captain Morgan.” He was an avid member of his community, volunteering with many service organizations, some of which include the Jaycees, the Rotary Club, the Elks, the Power Squadron, the VFW, the Sierra Club, the Boy Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, the Lyme Congregational Church, the Lyme Grange, the Lyme Public Hall and the Lions Club, where he served as president for several years. Morgan also hosted both Coast Guard Cadets and multiple foreign exchange students, providing a safe and loving home environment for those away from their own home. Through hard work, kindness, service and love, he lived his life diligently in service of his family, community and country. He loved to help others accomplish their goals but was also not afraid to ask for a hand (or two) in accomplishing a project of his own as he believed many hands make light work, and it would take all hands working together to forward the world in a positive direction.
Morgan was predeceased by his father Ernest Stiles Ely; and his mother Dorothy. He is survived by his wife Angeles Correa Ely of Lyme; his son and daughter-in-law Ernest Stiles Ely and Kirsten Gibson Ely of Brandon, Fla.; his daughter and son-in-law Elizabeth Ely Sunshine and David B. Sunshine of Lyme; his granddaughter Sierra Sunshine and husband Isaiah Keyes of Durham, N.C.; his grandson Austin Stiles Ely of Brandon, Fla.; his grandson Braiden Stiles Sunshine of Lyme; his granddaughter Jessica Lynn Ely of Brandon, Fla.; sisters, Daphne Ely of Waterford and Carwin Carruthers of East Lyme; brother William Keene Carruthers and his wife Rosie Carruthers of New Lebanon, Ohio; nieces and nephews, Vivian, Janet, Robin, Susan, Maggie and Samuel; and many other loving cousins and friends.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at The First Congregational Church of Lyme, 1 Sterling City Road, Lyme CT, 06371, with a reception following at the Lyme Public Hall, 249 Hamburg Road, Lyme CT, 06371.