Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre

12/27/2025

Funeral services for Mrs. Anna Etta Davis Jones will be conducted Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026 at 1 p.m. at Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre with interment in Springdale Cemetery in Madison, IN. Visitation will commence at 11 a.m. For a biographical recap, please visit the link below.

GOING HOME Mrs. Anna Etta Davis Jones, age 95, of Madison, Indiana entered this life on December 10, 1930 in Madison, Indiana. She was the loving daughter of the late William and Willa Mae Taylor Davis. She was raised in Madison and schooled there. Anna was united in marriage to

12/26/2025

Funeral services for Mr. Charles Owen Reid will be conducted Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025 at 1 p.m. at Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre with interment in Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will commence at 11 a.m. In recognition of Mr. Reid's service in the United States Army, Major Samuel Woodfill Post No. 9 of the American Legion will extend a final salute with military honors. For a biographical recap, please visit the link below.

Mr. Charles Owen Reid, age 65, of Madison, Indiana entered this life on July 29, 1960 in Louisville, Kentucky. He was the son of the late Charles Maurice and Virginia Lee Pendley Reid. He resided most of his life in Jefferson County and was schooled at Madison Consolidated High School.

12/25/2025

"From Our House to Yours"
Wishes that joy, love and faith fill your hearts and homes today.

12/24/2025

“Perfect Time for Christmas Memories”
You are never too old to search the skies on Christmas Eve and remember the magic! Whether it be gathering at Grandmother’s house, decorating the tree, welcoming a relative home from military, assembling Santa presents with missing parts, receiving a special gift, hearing Dad’s favorite story one more time or singing Christmas carols around the family piano, may Christmas Eve 2025 rekindle the warmest of memories for you. Tonight is the perfect time to reflect on life’s happy moments and share those with family and friends. From Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, “Merry Christmas Eve!”

12/24/2025

Funeral services for Rev. Paul James Limato, Jr. will be conducted Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025 at 1 p.m. at Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre with interment in Fairmount Cemetery in Madison, IN. Visitation, also at the Centre, will be Saturday from 4-7 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon until time of service. For a biographical recap, please visit the link below.

Rev. Paul James Limato Jr., age 72, of Madison, Indiana entered this life on July 11, 1953 in Mt. Vernon, New York. He was the son of the late Paul James, Sr. and Donnie Rae Boland Limato. He graduated from Wolfson High School in Jacksonville, Florida, and Hyles-Anderson College in

12/24/2025

“Christmas History, Traditions & Frivolity for 12.24.25”
From the joy of feeling faith exuded by nativity scenes, decorating veteran gravesites in both gratitude and honor to reading “Twas the Night Before Christmas’ to children and grandchildren to opposite emotions bearing sadness or conditions beyond one’s control, the holiday season also embraces time for history, traditions and frivolity. At the recent Morgan & Nay Christmas luncheon for recent widows and widowers, three of the presentations delightfully delved into those happy aspects. The Morgan & Nay AfterCare Events Program, which purports to help those who have recently lost a partner in life gain a new dimension of normalcy through social engagement, will share a few of those tidbits each day through Christmas Eve.

1. On Christmas Eve in 1914, British and German troops in the trenches unofficially halted Word War I to celebrate Christmas. Known as the “Christmas Truce,” the rival soldiers sang carols, exchanged personal possessions as gifts, played football and even decorated respective shelters.

2. According to legend, the tradition of hanging up Christmas stockings by the fireplace traces its root to a poor widower who feared he could not marry off his daughters due to his lack of wealth. St. Nicholas was wandering through that town on Christmas Eve and heard about the father’s plight. Neighbors said the proud man would not accept charity, so St. Nicholas slid down the chimney on Christmas Eve and filled the girls’ freshly laundered stockings hanging by the fireplace with gold coins. The family found the gift the next morning and the daughters became eligible to marry. At last, the proud father had a dowry to entice potential husbands for his precious daughters. And the stocking tradition begins!

3. Christmas wreaths have been around since ancient Greek and Roman times. The circular shape represents eternal life, with the holly leaves and berries symbolizing Christ’s crown of thorns and blood.

4. The Salvation Army Red Kettle concept with bell-ringers started in San Francisco. Salvation Army Cpt. Joseph McFee wanted to provide a free Christmas dinner to 1,000 of the city’s most destitute, the homeless and poor. The gesture of humanity and kindness for those struggling stemmed from a concept that Cpt. McFee had observed in England years earlier.

5. Saint Francis of Assisi created the first real-life nativity scene in Greccio, Italy in 1223. He staged the display with real people and live animals to make the birth of Jesus realistic for worshippers who could not read the scriptures.

6. “White Christmas” by Bing Cosby ranks as the bestselling Christmas song ever in record sales. Cosby sang the song in 1941, just days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The song was also used as a secret military signal during the fall of Saigon in April 1975. On April 29, the American Radio Service announced that the temperature in Saigon was “105 degrees and rising,” plus played Bing Cosby’s rendition of “White Christmas” over the radio. Those code signals meant that all Americans and Vietnamese allies would be immediately evacuated from the city. And Elvis, the King, even got the wrath of critics for his rendition of “White Christmas” on his 1957 Christmas album. Although the naysayers could not see the King doing his signature hip wiggle and body gyrations, they felt sure Elvis was doing those suggestive movements just the same when he recorded “White Christmas” in the studio.

9. Every Christmas, the New England village of Stockbridge, MA recreates in life-size version the simpler times captured by it most famous resident, artist Norman Rockwell, who spent his last 25 years there. Right down to the model cars parked at an angle to the lighted tree in Rockwell’s upstairs studio, the town tries to replicate every detail in Rockwell’s 1967 painting, “Home for Christmas.” For years, Rockwell’s work graced the front covers of prominent magazines, primarily the Saturday Evening Post.

7. In Poland, many families will not serve their Christmas dinner until the first star appears in the sky. The dinner traditionally features 12 meat-free dishes which are meant to bring good luck for each of the next 12 months.

8. The first Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center in New York City went up in 1931 but without the spectacle or name recognition of today. Actually, no one at the Rockefeller operation even knew about it. Workers, who were laboring at the center’s construction site, erected the 20-foot tree, without lights nor ornaments. But their zest for the holidays and remembrance of loved ones miles away sparked the interest of the upscale executives on the top floor. Two years later, in 1933, an official, 50-foot tree with lights went up to commence the famous tradition.

9. In Mobile, AL, hundreds of locals each year don their best set of pointy ears and red/green apparel to participate in the city-wide Elfapalooza. In 2015, Mobile broke the Guinness Record for the largest gathering ever of Santa elves with over 2,000 elves in attendance.

10. In 2018, the Kempinski Hotel Bahia in Spain decorated the most expensive Christmas trees of all times. The 19-foot fir sported jewels from Bvlgari, Cartier and Van Cleef to a tune of $15 million. The towering evergreen sported 3-carat pink and red diamonds, 4-carat sapphires and other precious jewels.

Today's post marks the conclusion of our "Christmas History, Traditions & Frivolity" for 2025. Morgan & Nay hopes the tidbits have brought a smile or historical perspective to the many aspects of the season. To everyone, "Merry Christmas."

12/23/2025

Funeral services for Mr. Matthew Reed Lyon will be conducted Monday, Dec. 29, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre with interment in Canaan (IN) Cemetery. Visitation, also at the Centre, will be Sunday from 4-7 p.m. and Monday from 10 a.m. until time of service. The Canaan Masonic Lodge No. 581 will conduct memorial services Sunday at 7 p.m. For a biographical recap, please visit the link below.

Mr. Matthew Reed Lyon, age 32, of Canaan, Indiana entered this life on July 15, 1993 in Commerce Township, Michigan. He was the loving son of David Matthew and Jennifer Lynn Waters Lyon. He was raised in Livonia, Michigan and graduated from Franklin High School in 2012. He then received

12/23/2025

Mrs. Rosa Manaog Baya passed away Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. Per Mrs. Baya's wishes, she will be lay to rest in the Philippines, her native land. For a biographical recap, please visit the link below.

Mrs. Rosa Manaog Baya, age 84, of Madison, Indiana entered this life on October 11, 1941 in the Philippines. She was raised and schooled in the Philippines. On May 28, 1961, she was united in marriage to Teodulo Baya in the Philippines. This happy union of 64 years was blessed

12/23/2025

Funeral services for Mr. Donald L. Walp, Jr. will be conducted Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre with interment in Pisgah Cemetery near Deputy, IN. Visitation, also at the Centre, will be Friday from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until time of service. For a biographical recap, please visit the link below.

Mr. Donald L. Walp Jr., age 78, of Deputy, Indiana entered this life on September 15, l947 in Scottsburg, Indiana. He was the son of the late Donald L., Sr. and Marguerite Wyne Walp. He attended Deputy High School and lived in the Paris Crossing area all of his life.

12/23/2025

“Christmas History, Traditions & Frivolity for 12.23.25”
From the joy of fulfilling an angel tree list, receiving cards from old friends and neighbors miles away to singing along to Christmas carols to opposite emotions bearing sadness or conditions beyond one’s control, the holiday season also embraces time for history, traditions and frivolity. At the recent Morgan & Nay Christmas luncheon for recent widows and widowers, three of the presentations delightfully delved into those happy aspects. The Morgan & Nay AfterCare Events Program, which purports to help those who have recently lost a partner in life gain a new dimension of normalcy through social engagement, will share a few of those tidbits each day through Christmas Eve.

1. The famous Radio City Music Hall Rockettes have been kicking up their heels in precise sync since 1934. The 80 plus dancers, who must range in height between 5’5” to 5’10.5”, perform around 160 high kicks per show. To make sure the audience hears every sound of their tap dancing segments, even their shoes sport microphones.

2. First introduced in 1959, the “Barbie” doll ranks as the best-selling Christmas toy of all time. Other top best sellers, with their introductory dates, have been Lego sets in 1964, Hot Wheels in 1968 and the Rubik’s Cube in 1974. All four are still being manufactured and frequently make Santa’s list.

3. For many families worldwide, a Christmas must entails attending a performance of “The Nutcracker.” The famous ballet first premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia on Dec. 18, 1892. It was performed for the first time outside of Russia in 1934 in England. The Tchaikovsky masterpiece did not cross the ocean to the United States until 10 years later in 1944.

4. Alabama was the first state to declare Christmas Day a legal holiday. The United States government did not follow suit until 34 years later in 1870.

5. Martin Luther, the 16th Century Protestant reformer, supposedly initiated the concept of placing small, lit candles on the branches of Christmas trees before the invention of electricity. When walking through the woods one night, Luther became enchanted by the sight of shining stars visible through the snowy, towering evergreens.

6. In Ukraine, Christmas trees often sport artificial spiders and webs rather than tinsel and baubles. The tradition stems from two different, but kind-hearted legends. In one version, the family is so poor that its tree would have been bare had not a spider spinned a beautiful web over it in time for Christmas morning. The second tale compares in similarity. In hopes of a Christmas tree in their home that year, a poor widow and her children grew a Christmas tree from a pine cone but as Christmas morning got closer they did not have money nor materials for decorations. When the spiders heard the children crying, they adorned the tree with their beautiful webs.

7. Now a holiday favorite and known by all ages, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” faced some negative acceptance in its early years. Although Rudolph first appeared in 1939 as a cartoon character of sorts for a Montgomery Ward promotion, the musical version with the red nose did not come about until almost 10 years later when cowboy movie star and artist Gene Autry recorded the song. Several radio stations and school groups initially refused to give the song air-time or inclusion in local holiday plays because of Rudolph’s red nose and story line. The critics contended the shiny red noise conveyed the use of excessive alcohol and that the lyrics condoned bullying and discrimination. “All the other reindeer used to laugh and call Rudolph names. They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games.”

8. Along the Great River Road between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, towering bonfires flank the Mississippi River each Christmas Eve. A deep Louisiana tradition, locals ignite massive stacks of tinder to light the way for “Papa Noel,” the French term for Santa Claus in this Cajun country.

9. Eggnog, a popular beverage of the holiday season, dates to medieval times. Called “posset” then, the early drink featured hot, sweetened milk curdled with ale or wine. Along the way, monks added the extra flavor of raw eggs and figs. Jamestown settler brought the taste to America upon their arrival in 1607.

10. In 2024, consumer data shows that 83% of American homes sported an artificial Christmas tree, as opposed to a live evergreen. The first artificial tree, which supposedly originated in Germany, featured goose feathers that had been dyed green.

11. President Theodore Roosevelt banned Christmas trees from the White House during his tenure, 1901-1908. The President was a conservationist, against deforestation. The first national Christmas tree at the White House appeared in 1923 under President Calvin Coolidge’s administration. The 48-foot fir came from President Coolidge’s home state of Vermont.

12. France gifted the United States the Statue of Liberty on Christmas Day 1886. Definitely, one of the heaviest yuletide gifts ever at 225 tons.

12/22/2025

“Christmas History, Traditions & Frivolity for 12.22.25”
From the joy of gifting neighbors and co-workers with savory fudge and cookies, wrapping presents with festive embellishments and attending Christmas Eve church services to opposite emotions bearing sadness or conditions beyond one’s control, the holiday season also embraces time for history, traditions and frivolity. At the recent Morgan & Nay Christmas luncheon for recent widows and widowers, three of the presentations delightfully delved into those happy aspects. The Morgan & Nay AfterCare Events Program, which purports to help those who have recently lost a partner in life gain a new dimension of normalcy through social engagement, will share a few of those tidbits each day through Christmas Eve.

1. The poinsettia, the signature flower of Christmas for nearly 150 years, derives its name from Rev. Joel R. Poinsett who brought the beautiful red and green bloom home from Mexico in 1828. Prominent, upscale stores in New York city started selling poinsettias 42 years later in 1870 and they quickly became a marketing hit.

2. The ugly Christmas sweater trend and contests first appeared in Vancouver, Canada in the 1980s. The ugly sweater staple, now an American industry with multiple manufacturers and online vendors, neared $300 million in sales in 2024.

3. Hallmark printed its first Christmas card in 1915, five years after the company was founded. According to the Hallmark website, of the 1,000 printed in the introductory year, only two of the original cards are known to exist. Since that time, Hallmark has created over 2,000 designs for Christmas box sales.

4. In 1944, school teacher Donald Gardner wanted his second-grade class to compose a song for the school Christmas play. When he and his wife asked the eager youngsters what they wanted for Christmas, every child offered a different answer. And not a single one asked for two front teeth although many were obviously missing those permanent, childhood whites. Mr. Gardner went home that night and wrote the song in 30 minutes. After the cute ditty was recorded and aired in 1948, the royalties and profits poured in. Mr. Gardner soon quit his teaching job.

5. In Japan, a little bit of Kentuckiana can be found. Millions of Japanese families enjoy Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) on Christmas Day. Takeshi Okawara, who owned the first KFC franchise in Japan, began selling Christmas barrels of chicken in 1970. The promotion quickly gained popularity and today thousands of Japanese families place their orders in advance to ensure the American dish graces their holiday buffet.

6. NORAD’s tracking of Santa Claus each Christmas Eve stems from an innocent mistake, which was instantly addressed by a compassionate commander who loved the magic of Christmas believed by children. In 1955, a young child accidentally dialed the unlisted phone number of the continental Air Defense Command Operations Center in Colorado Springs, CO. Wanting to make sure that Santa received her list, the little girl thought she was calling the jolly man himself after seeing a promotion in a local paper. Commander Harry Shoup, who answered the phone, assured the youngster that indeed Santa would visit her and experience a safe journey from the North Pole. Ever since that first call 70 years ago, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has been tracking Santa’s every move on Christmas Eve to children's delight.

12/21/2025

“Christmas History, Traditions & Frivolity for 12.21.25”
From the joy of delighting children on Christmas morning, stirring up “must have” dishes for the family gathering and decorating the tree to opposite emotions bearing sadness or conditions beyond one’s control, the holiday season also embraces time for history, traditions and frivolity. At the recent Morgan & Nay Christmas luncheon for recent widows and widowers, three of the presentations delightfully delved into those happy aspects. The Morgan & Nay AfterCare Events Program, which purports to help those who have recently lost a partner in life gain a new dimension of normalcy through social engagement, will share a few of those tidbits each day through Christmas Eve.

1. The famous “Christmas Carol” novella, penned by Charles Dickens in 1843, sold out in five days. The printing company issued the first run of 6,000 copies on Dec. 19 and by Christmas Eve, the London book shelves loomed empty. Today, 182 years later, the story of Tiny Tim and the mellowed Ebenezer Scrooge still warms hearts come Christmas.

2. From a global perspective, the 2018 Christmas movie “The Grinch” ranks as the highest grossing Christmas movie ever with a revenue of $514 million. In the United States per se, “Home Alone” tops No. 1 in the box office sales charts.

3. In 1988, Denny’s Restaurant with over 1,200 stores encountered a major problem. Since its inception, the chain had always promoted an “Always Open Policy.” When the company decided to close on Christmas Day for the first time ever in 1988, hundreds of franchises had to scramble for lost or misplaced keys and a few buildings never had locks put on as a manager was always on duty. The chain had to install locks on approximately 700 stores before they could safely secure the facilities on Christmas Day.

4. It took Mariah Carey and her collaborator Walter Afanasieff less than 30 minutes to write their pop hit “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Recorded in 1994, the number ranks amongst America’s most favorite Christmas songs.

5. Coca Cola marked the first company to use the image of Santa Claus for advertising purposes. Designed by advertising artist Haddon Sundblom, the Coca Cola Santa has appeared on all its Christmas beverage advertisements and cans since the 1930s.

6. According to multiples sources, “Silent Night” likely ranks as the most sung Christmas song worldwide. But the Christmas classic too shares an unique story. An Austrian priest was determined to have music at his Christmas Eve service, but the organ at his church was broken. As a result, he asked his musician friend, an accomplished guitarist, to compose a musical score for the Christmas poem “Silent Night” that he had written. Thus the first version of “Silent Night” was accompanied by guitar, not piano nor organ.