Local couple dies of COVID within 5 days of each other

REXBURG, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho couple that had been married for over 48 years died from the coronavirus within five days of each other earlier this month.

Debbie Morgan died on Dec. 15 while her husband, Craig Morgan, passed away on Dec. 20.

“They’re happy being back together,” said their daughter Kelly Romine.

Doctors had diagnosed Craig Morgan with the coronavirus on Dec. 11 and admitted him to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center on the same day his wife died. Debbie Morgan had spent the last two years residing at an assisted living center while being treated for multiple sclerosis. She contracted the coronavirus in November, the Standard Journal reported.

Craig Morgan received a phone call from his daughter telling her that his wife had died shortly before he was intubated last Tuesday.

“I let him know my mom had passed away,” Romine said. “I could tell he was really sad. From there, he was put on a ventilator that was never taken off. He was on it from Tuesday until we took him off on Sunday. He wasn’t conscious.”

Craig and Debbie met in 1971 at Ricks College, which was turned into a four-year institution and renamed the Brigham Young University—Idaho in 2001. The couple married in 1972.

“They fell head over heels for each other,” Romine said.

The couple were unable to have any biological children and adopted infants Kelly and Wendy. They also cared for four foster daughters for several years.

The two worked together as custodians for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints buildings. Craig also drove a school bus for more than two decades while Debbie ran a wedding cake business for several years.