Many people knew Jeff Morgan as J MO, and remember his love for singing. Others recall how he survived Hodgkin’s disease and later in life helped children with their own battle of cancer.
However he was known, he will always be remembered for his love of God and his friends.
Morgan, who was a fifth-year senior at Baker University, died early April 13 after he was struck by a train in Edgerton.
University Minister Ira DeSpain said in his speech on Sunday night in the Osborne Chapel, that ‘it’s always a shock, it’s never the right time, it’s forever too soon.’
Also, DeSpain tried to address not only students’ grief at the loss of a friend and classmate, but also how many questions are still unanswered about the accident.
“People have been affected most by who knew him,” DeSpain said. “People who didn’t know him well have been affected too.”
Senior McCoy Nelson, who was Morgan’s roommate, said he is coping with his death by being around friends. He said Morgan was the kind of person who wanted to make friends with anyone he didn’t know.
Nelson said Morgan really cared about people and never put on an act.
“With Jeff, it’s pretty much what you see is what you get,” Nelson said. “He was always himself.”
Morgan was involved in many activities in high school and in college. He graduated from Emporia High School in 2001. His major was Pre-Med with a minor in chemistry and mass communication. He was active in football for a few years, as well as FCA, Student Activities Council, radio and the Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Nurse Ruth Sarna said she was in the airport when she first found out about Morgan’s death.
“I noticed I had a missed call from Sarah Hastings, she told me what happened,” Sarna said. “‘No, that can’t be,’ were my first words.”
Morgan had his own show for 89.7 KNBU the Wildcat at Baker University. He also owned a bar and night club in Emporia called J Mo’s Place with his mother, Joy.
“I had a lot of respect for him,” Sarna said. “The challenges he faced with his cancer and his positive attitude about his cancer.
Students, faculty, staff, family and friends have all dealt with Morgan’s death in many ways, and there is not a right or wrong way to deal with it, DeSpain said.”…We grieve by seeking out one another, by physically forming this imperfect community and family we call Baker,” DeSpain said during Sunday’s memorial service. “However you deal with grief, it’s probably pretty natural.”
Talking with friends and finding others ways to cope in your own way, such as doing yoga, meditating, or going to church, are among the ideas Sarna had to help cope with death.
“Writing down the things you remember about Jeff, processing him in your heart,” Sarna said. “Review the positive things that went on in his life.”
Senior Leslie Kersting said DeSpain and Hastings have really put themselves out there to help the students.
“The main way people are coping is getting together with other friends,” Kersting said., “…and remembering the good times with Jeff, more like celebrating his life, rather than being depressed.”
DeSpain spoke Tuesday about Morgan’s tragic death.
“God’s heart is broken at Jeff’s death,” DeSpain said. “It is in that brokenness that we are receiving the support to sustain us through this unimaginable pain.”
Morgan had applied to a medical school in Tennessee, but still wasn’t sure whether that was what he wanted to do with his life, or if he wanted to sing. He sang at Country Stampede, a country music festival held every year in Manhattan, three times.
Kersting said he had a lot going for him.
“He delivered tapes to music contests and won some,” Kersting said. “He worked weddings with his mom doing karaoke.”
The funeral took place at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church of Emporia. DeSpain said overall, there were probably 800 people there.
“Jeff’s life was celebrated with laughter, clapping and tears,” DeSpain said. “The memorial service was different than any I have ever done before, but in many ways it reflected Jeff’s personality.”