Tuesday, June 24, 2003 | 8:33 a.m.
If Shirley Morgan learned of a Las Vegas charitable organization in need, there was a good chance she would either write a check or put together a fund-raiser -- anything to help.
The widow of famed big band leader Russ Morgan, she was active in Las Vegas civic organizations and charities starting in the mid-1960s.
"It seemed like my mother was on every committee in town," said Jack Morgan, who today leads the family orchestra that was founded in 1935.
"Once in the mid-1980s I told her I would be visiting her in November. She got the old Holiday Casino on the Strip (now Harrah's) to donate the use of its showroom and booked us in for a fund-raiser for one of her charities. Mom was such a diplomat -- and so sweet -- few people could ever say no to her."
Shirley Gray Morgan, a Las Vegas community activist for more than 40 years -- whose charitable endeavors helped numerous organizations, from the Jewish group Hadassah to the Star Auxiliary, which that raised money for mentally retarded children -- died June 17 of a heart attack in her Las Vegas home. She was 87.
Services were held at Palm Mortuary-Downtown. Interment was in Palm Memorial Park in a plot with Russ Morgan, co-writer of "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You" and "Does Your Heart Beat for Me," who died in 1969.
After her husband's death, Shirley threw herself into her charitable work, which included helping organizations such as the Society of Singers, which aids down-and-out performers, the Women's American ORT, The Town Club and Temple Beth Sholom.
"She was well known in Las Vegas before Russ died and she continued to be involved in show business and charitable work long after," said Eve Quillin, a friend and longtime Las Vegas writer, who has contributed to such publications as "Nevada Woman" and "Senior Spectrum."
"Shirley was one of the matriarchs of this city -- one of the old gals who kind of ran this town for so many years."
Jack Morgan, who was on the road with his band in Iowa when he received word that his mother had died, said that while she made the rounds at all of the big soirees of the day, her end of the social circle was the philanthropic work.
"Mom didn't go for much of the la-dee-da stuff. She was into helping people in need," he said. "And she retained her sharp mind right to the end. She was doing the bookkeeping for the band right up to this year."
Born Shirley Darling Gray on May 28, 1916, in New York City, she was the daughter of Jack Gray, a hardware store owner, and the former Rae Schneider, a teacher.
Shirley attended high school on Long Island and graduated from Scudder's Finishing School in New York, where she learned secretarial and bookkeeping skills.
It was while working as a secretary for Brunswick Records in 1935 that she met Russ Morgan, who was just starting his band and was recording for the label. They married in 1939 and lived in Beverly Hills for 20 years.
Russ and Jack Morgan came to the Dunes when it opened in 1965, the year the family moved to Las Vegas. The Morgan orchestra worked as the "Top o' The Strip" orchestra at the Dunes until the late 1970s. The Bellagio now stands on the former site of the Dunes.
Today Jack Morgan's band performs on cruises, at special events and at dances throughout the United States. Its next scheduled Las Vegas appearance is Sept. 6 at the Stardust. Jack Morgan today resides in East Moline, Ill.
In addition to her son, Morgan is survived by another son, David Huw Morgan of Richmond, Va.; two daughters, Judith M. Drinkhall of Glen Ellen, Calif., and Patricia Ann Morgan of Oxnard, Calif.; a sister, Audrey Remo of Long Beach, N.Y.; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
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