John Morgan Hooker

John Morgan Hooker, 52, of Fayetteville, Ark., passed away May 30, 2022, in Parthenon, Arkansas. Morgan was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on November 29, 1969. He graduated from Pine Bluff High School and attended the University of Arkansas. Morgan was a founding partner of High Street Real Estate & Development and had an extensive background in architecture, land planning, development, and construction. He was a licensed general contractor in several states for 20 plus years, working with city staff, architects and other planners on redevelopment projects such as Johnson Square, Drake Farms, The Gordon Hotel in Jasper, The Fayetteville Mill District and The 1907 in Rogers, Arkansas, where he was known for his "green pen markups" of design plans. As a general contractor, Morgan completed structures for Walmart, Exxon, Pack Rat, and Sonic Corporation amongst others. Morgan was a member of the Congress for the New Urbanism, the National Town Builders Association and the Urban Land Institute, and has been honored by the American Institute of Architects. He was passionate about building and community involvement, serving as a Board Member of Habitat for Humanity, and as Chairman of the Developers and Contractors committee for the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. On October 27, 2001, he married his best friend and beloved wife, Carlen Groninger, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Morgan and Carlen loved traveling, laughing, and supporting each other's respective work. Humor was a central component of their relationship. They made marriage fun. Nothing was more important to him than quality time with his family. While Morgan's achievements were numerous, his greatest and most precious accomplishments were his two beautiful daughters, Greer and Lawsen. He lived to make each of their days perfect. To say he was an involved dad, was an understatement. Every day was a celebration with his daughters and his support was unwavering. He never missed a dance competition, soccer game, or volleyball game. Time outdoors with his girls (and their friends) was his love. He encouraged them to value and experience all that the land and outdoors had to offer. Take each day one by one, keep smiling, and leave nothing of that day unappreciated. And of course, always be prepared; a head lamp, duct tape, batteries, glow stick, knife, black sharpie, Nalgene bottle, maybe one additional knife was the standard graduation gift for all his extended "daughters and sons" he had over the years. Besides a few unfinished projects, Morgan left us a lot to laugh about. He liked to believe he was Jason Bourne, as he was perpetually prepared and prepped for any situation. Morgan, a dreamer of all things good, put high on his list of happiness ice cream and pastry shops. On numerous trips to his favorite Disney World, 30A, or Salida, Colo., he was always offering to buy ice cream for the kids, but we all knew, it was really an excuse for him to get his chocolate shake. Two of Morgan's favorite yearly activities included his annual Father/Daughter road trips, and his COBR motorcycle expeditions with his closest friends, who he dragged to every pastry shop they passed. Music was also a constant in Morgan's life. He loved introducing kids to John Prine, The Avett Brothers, David Allan Coe, and Old Crow Medicine Show. But his range was expansive, with Macklemore's "Downtown" high on his play list. It might be said that Morgan got cheated because he passed too young, but it's really those who knew and loved him who got cheated. Morgan left all he touched better ….. his memory is written in perfect block letters, in black Sharpie marker, on all our hearts. Morgan is preceded in death by his parents, Rebecca and John Hooker, and his grandparents, Imogene and Vernon Morgan. He is survived by his devoted wife, Carlen Groninger Hooker, his loving children, Greer Hooker and Lawsen Alexandria Hooker, uncle Henry Morgan (Veda Morgan), sister-in-law Regan Paluch (Glenn Paluch), nephews Zach and Henry Paluch, and mother-in-law, Donna Groninger. Morgan is also survived by a family of close loving friends that will miss him dearly and treasure every single memory. Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Monday, June 6, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1722 N. Starr Dr, Fayetteville, AR, with Father Alex Smith officiating. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Sunday, June 5, 2022, at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home, 4520 N Crossover Rd, Fayetteville, Ark., 72764. In lieu of flowers, donations and memorials may be made to Arkansas Children's Hospital in the name of Jimi Tucker and Hayden Yates. Two real life "Jason Bournes". To sign the online guestbook, please visit: www.bernafuneralhomes.com.