Carolyn Cockburn was watching the news at her Toronto home when an item scrolling across the bottom of the screen made her gasp.
Oct 21, 2025 • Last updated Oct 22, 2025 •
A longtime former client said Barbara Morgan made every child enrolled in her home daycare feel special. Morgan, 71, was killed in Simcoe on Oct. 5. Her son is charged in her death. Photo by Carolyn Cockburn /SUBMITTED
Carolyn Cockburn was watching the news at her Toronto home when an item scrolling across the bottom of the screen made her gasp.
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Her old friend, Barbara Morgan, had been killed in Simcoe. And Morgan’s son, Justin, was charged with the crime.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Cockburn told The .
Morgan, 71, was found dead inside her home near the fairgrounds on Oct. 5.
Justin Morgan, 45, was arrested five days later, not long after police searched his home a few blocks away from his mother’s.
“I knew Justin as a child, and I’m surprised at all this. I thought he was very close to his mother,” Cockburn said.
“As he got older, it did seem like he was having trouble morphing into an adult. I don’t remember any friends around.”
Cockburn had not seen her friend since Morgan left Toronto for Simcoe in 2017 – in search of cheaper housing in a quieter town, Cockburn said. But the two women stayed in touch through Christmas cards filled with the latest news about their lives.
They met more than 30 years ago when Cockburn was looking for child care for her two young daughters and visited Morgan’s registered home daycare.
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“Barbara told me to come at noon for our initial interview and meeting,” Cockburn recalled.
“I asked her (if) maybe she would like a not-so-busy time. And she said, ‘No, this way you can see me in action and meet the other kids.’ I was impressed and remained impressed the next 12 years.”
Morgan’s husband had died in a motorcycle accident a few years earlier, leaving her to raise two young children alone, Cockburn recalled. So she ran her daycare and picked up cleaning jobs on the side to make extra money.
“She was a very hard worker. Barbara was a woman who could take care of herself and loved taking care of others,” Cockburn said.
“She often took on special needs children other daycares shied away from. She had a way of making every child in her care feel seen, safe, special and loved.”
Cockburn said her daughters were “quite devastated” to learn of Morgan’s death now that they’re both in their 30s.
“Barbara’s was a second home to my children and many others and was so formidable in my daughters’ development into who they are today as adults,” she said.
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A longtime former client said Barbara Morgan made every child enrolled in her home daycare feel special. Morgan ,71 , was killed in Simcoe on Oct.5. Her son is charged with her death. Photo by Carolyn Cockburn /SUBMITTED
Cock burn ’s daughters fondly reminisced about daycare outings to the zoo and Toronto Island , endless craft projects , and games of make-believe inspired by Morgans seemingly inexhaustible dress-up box.
“Her home often smelled of homemade baking and coffee. My kids loved her grilled cheese sandwiches ,”Cock burn said.
“She had a beautiful backyard that even had pond with fish and turtles. At Christmas , she handmade gifts for all the daycare kids. All holidays and birthdays were made special by Barbara.”
Morgan ’s kindness extended to animal kingdom. Cock burn remembered “friendly dogs and cats milling around house”, along with baby squirrel Morgan rescued nursed back health.
“She taught children respect all creatures ”,
Morgan’s sudden death leaves Cockburn wondering how she was killed and who called 911 the day she was found. Police have so far refused to share those details.
While she waits for answers , Cock burn focuses on happy memories lifelong friend holds special place family story.
“Barbara caring kind strong fun-loving person made warm lasting impression all knew well,”cock bur nsaid.
“She will be missed.”
J. P. Antonacci Local Journalism Initiative Reporter based . Initiative funded Government Canada.
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