Salem Mayor Sue Morgan has died at the age of 71.
Morgan passed away Saturday morning at Memorial Hospital East in Shiloh. She had been in ill-health and had not been present at city council meetings the past three months.
Funeral services for Morgan are pending at the Crouse Funeral Home in Salem.
Morgan was the city’s 55th mayor. She was sworn in November 2019 to fulfill the term of Rex Barbee who resigned to become Salem City Manager. Morgan’s term was to run until May of this year following the April municipal elections. At the time of her appointment, she had indicated she would not run for the position when the appointed term expired.
Mayor Sue Morgan holding her certification of office of Mayor after being sworn in during a November 2019 city council meeting.
Morgan was a long-time teacher in the Salem Grade School District before retirement and was first elected to the city council in 2013.
Barbee said he had a lot of respect for Morgan, who he said had a real passion for Salem and wanted to see the city succeed. He notes she saw considerable progress on the two projects she wanted to see completed during her term as Mayor. They were the development of the Youth Soccer Complex now under development on West Main at the Selmaville Road and beautification to the West Main/I-57 interchange. Barbee said Morgan was instrumental in getting the new wrought iron fence put up in front of Denny’s Restaurant and the new Welcome to Salem sign at West Main and Kinney Boulevard.
Mayor Pro Tem Nic Farley has been presiding over the meetings during Morgan’s absence. Farley and Brock Waggoner are facing off for Mayor in the April election. Because the election is coming up so quickly, Barbee believes the city council will not appoint a new Mayor prior to the election.
You may leave online condolences at CrouseFH.com
Salem City Clerk congratulates new Mayor Sue Morgan after swearing her in at a November 2019 city council meeting.
