Obituary of Ivan Roger Morehouse

Obituary for Ivan Roger Morehouse Ivan Roger Morehouse died at the age of 77 on Sunday July 17, 2022 in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Following a head injury and subsequent hospitalization, Roger returned to his home to spend his last days with his beloved Appalachian mountains in sight. On the far side of those mountains, in the fertile land of Eastern Kentucky, Roger was born and raised on a small farm outside Morehead with siblings Robert, Wanda Geneva, Otis, and Brenda. Surviving early childhood illness, he was able to stay in school, go to college at Morehead State and medical school at the University of Kentucky. There he met his wife, Nancy, and together they wove a life of doctoring, gardening, wildflower-viewing, and homemaking. They reared three rambunctious sons, John, Hayes, and Martin, and also hosted numerous foreign-student sons and daughters. In addition to his wife of 54 years and his sons, he is survived by three grandchildren. Roger showed his love for family, friends and patients by baking cakes for birthdays, giving hugs when needed, and cracking jokes when inappropriate. Roger's life brought him far away from his origins, but he always found a way to maintain a connection to the land and his upbringing through gardening. He treasured his "Little Hillside Farm" in the New River Valley of Virginia where he grew sweet corn and tomatoes and watched the birds and sunsets from his back porch. In honor of his love for the land and in tribute to his favorite author, Wendell Berry, the family asks that any donations be made to The Berry Center or their conservation charity of choice.