One of West Grayson County’s most impactful community volunteers passed away last week at the age of 104. 
Elizabeth “Liz” Powell Morelan died May 22, 2025 at Whitesboro Health and Rehab where she was a resident.

She was born April 24, 1921 in Henryetta, Oklahoma to John Franklin Powell and Ellen Pearl Polk. 

When she was 15 months old, she and her family moved to Durant, Oklahoma where she grew up. 

After high school, she attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University for three years where she was named Homecoming Queen.

Liz married John Morelan on June 25, 1941.

She joined him at Tinker Airforce Base in Oklahoma City where she worked in finance. 

Then she followed him to Dalhart, Texas and to California before visiting him in Florida where he was stationed.

They settled in Vernon, Texas where John worked as a machinist and welder.

She and John moved to Sherwood Shores in 1963 and began selling real estate.

Later she took courses at North Texas State University and at SMU to be certified as a city secretary.

She served as city secretary for Whitesboro from 1985 to 1990 and later became one of the most active members of Keep Whitesboro Beautiful, the Whitesboro History Club and other organizations.

“Liz has set the bar for the rest of us. I’m not sure any of us can come close to her achievements. I’ve never met anyone that gets so much pleasure out of helping others,” former KWB president Sharron Welch told the Whitesboro News-Record in 2017. 

While Whitesboro city secretary, she worked with mayors Charles Winchester and Al Miller.

Another former mayor, W.D. Welch, was mayor pro tem during her later years as city secretary.

But her major contributions to the area over the decades have been with volunteer organizations.

Her heroism was in her volunteerism. 

She served on countless committees for various organizations for more than half a century. 

In 2017, the Greater Federation of Women’s Club (GFWC) Trinity District named her a District Life Member Emeritus. 

Shortly before her 100th birthday, Liz was presented with a 60-year pin for more than 60 years of service to Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs (TFWC). 

That same year, she celebrated her 100th birthday at the TFWC Convention in Lubbock.

She is a life member of the GFWC and served on the Life Membership and Memorial Committee of that state organization. 

Liz served as chairman of the New Members Committee for the Whitesboro History Club and on the KWB Membership Committee. 

She dedicated a great deal of her time in seeking to recruit new members for both organizations.

She was not only a member of Whitesboro area women’s clubs. 

In recent years, Liz was a founding member of Lake Area Women’s Club in Gordonville and the North Texas Women’s Club in Bells where she contributed to a first-ever women’s club scholarship at Bells High School and a first-ever Lake Area Women’s Club Scholarship at Whitesboro High School. 

At age 96, Liz served as grand marshal of 2017 Whitesboro Peanut Festival parade.

She was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Whitesboro Area Chamber of Commerce in the spring 2018. 

Before her own health prevented it, she frequently visited people, many of whom younger than her, in area nursing homes.

Liz was also active in politics over the years, supporting her favorite candidates. 

She was a proud political independent who supported candidates on both sides of the aisle. 

In 2000, Liz was baptized in Lake Texoma, a member of the Gordonville Church of Christ by MD Pinkston.
She later was a longtime member of the Sherwood Shores Chapel.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband John in 1985; sister Christina Trantham; brother John Ed Powell and half-sister Sheila Lindsay. 

Liz is survived by a son Jim Morelan; grandchildren James Morelan, Jeff Morelan and Jennifer Parks; the mother of her grandchildren Nita Morelan; great-grandchildren Devin Morris, Grayson Parks and Madison Parks; and great-great -grandchild Ezra Curtis. 

Liz is also survived by special friend and caregiver Patricia Davis; special friends Bobbie Erwin and Dan Eakin; and a host of community members and friends who Liz affectionately called “her babies.”

Even in her last act, Liz gave back to society. 

She donated her body to science in memory of her late husband. 

John had wished to do the same when he passed but was unable. 

Once she finishes her journey, Liz’s family will honor her by inurning her ashes with John in Durant, Oklahoma. 

Liz did not want a funeral. Instead, her friends celebrated her life back in August with a community gathering at Wesley Hall in Whitesboro. 

Speakers at that event included former Grayson County Sheriff Tom Watt and District Judge Larry Phillips who had known and loved Liz for many years. 

Whitesboro mayor Dave Blaylock read a proclamation designating the day as Liz Morelan Day in Whitesboro.
Just last month, her 104th birthday party was featured in the News-Record and on local television. 

All who would like to remember Liz are encouraged to attend a lunch at noon Thursday, June 19 at Las Haciendas in Whitesboro. 

All who attend will be able to share memories of Liz with the group.