Monday, September 21, 2009
Kara Morgan’s passion in life was dancing.
“From the time she was little, she’d take her little blanket with her and she’d just dance around and put it over her head like it was a princess dress and dance and dance,” Connie Morgan, her mother, said.
Contributed photo
When Kara Morgan was buried last Wednesday, she was buried with a little piece of that childhood blanket.
Morgan, Holton junior, died on Sept. 12 at the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan. Initial police reports stated she was driving the wrong direction in the westbound lane of K-10 at around 3 a.m. when her car collided with another car, but accident reconstruction specialists from the Kansas Highway Patrol later determined that Morgan was driving west in the westbound lane at the time of the accident, Connie Morgan said, and the other driver was driving east. She and the driver of the other car, 20-year-old Eric Sill of Olathe, were both killed. Both were wearing seatbelts.
Morgan’s funeral was held Wednesday at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton.
Morgan was energetic, charismatic and the life of every party, according to her friends.
“You could tell if she liked you because she was always bouncing up and down in your face and just excited about every story,” her best friend, Hannah Blodgett, said. “She told jokes and she had the most beautiful laugh.”
Morgan was part of the dance team at Jackson Heights High School in Holton until her graduation in 2001. She then moved to Lawrence, where she studied at the University and worked at the Yacht Club. Katie Kirsch, her manager there, said that Morgan’s energy was infectious.
“She’d walk into a room and make everyone smile, even if they were having the worst day possible,” she said
In 2004, Morgan dropped her classes and moved to Hawaii, where she waited tables at a five-star restaurant for two years. During her stay, Morgan would send gifts from Hawaii to her nephew, Cooper, said her sister, Jennifer Whitaker, of Tacoma, Wash.
“He would always look for a package from Auntie,” she said. “Then she came back to Lawrence and was a poor college kid like everyone else and Cooper would say, ‘Where’s my Auntie-package?’”
After returning to Lawrence, Morgan started a new major in sports management. She told her mother two weeks before her death that her goal was to get an internship with the Seattle Seahawks.
“Of anybody that could’ve done it, I think Kara probably could’ve done it, because once Kara set her mind on doing something, it got done,” her mother said.
Blodgett remembered traveling to Las Vegas with Morgan to celebrate Blodgett’s 21st birthday. The girls had booked a room on the 10th floor of the Paris Las Vegas hotel, but Blodgett said Morgan charmed the workers at the front desk into giving the girls a free upgrade to a better room on the 27th floor.
Blodgett said Morgan would want her friends and family to be happy, even after her death.
“I’ve been telling them that she’s dancing, wherever she’s at now,” Blodgett said.
— — Edited by Brenna M. T. Daldorph
Lawrence junior dies in accident
University mourns Kara Morgan, who died after a car crash on Kansas ...
Mirsepasi remembered as happy, caring
KU student’s passing mourned by friends and family.
Sales of the death men (part 2)
Only three people in Lawrence have had a green burial, despite the ...
Student valued in, out of home
Take a look at Kansas’ 2nd State ...
Incumbent Democrat Marci Francisco takes on Republican challenger Scott Morgan.
Dancers bring celebrated ballets to Lied Center
The Suzanne Farrell Ballet performed the works of famed choreographer George Balanchine.
Art smart
For fine arts students, it’s all about passion
Malicious Intimacy
Four students' experiences with domestic violence.
Tragedy in transition: When death interrupts college
Three students' college experiences were shattered by the loss of a parent.
Centennial celebration honors dancer’s life, legacy
Events will include student and guest performances, art exhibits and the rededication ...
Family remembers KU student killed in car ...
Neil Hockenbarger, 26, died early Thursday morning. His wife said he was ...
Student takes lead at local studio
A KU sophomore choreographed his first show, which will be performed tonight.
Tragedy in transition: Lindy's story
Lindy Anderson had to deal with the death of her father mostly ...
Students remembered at funeral on Friday
Family and friends recalled their favorite memories about Stephanie Marie Conn and ...
Invitational has impressive competition
The diving team will travel to Houston to compete in the Cougar ...
Arts center holds fundraiser in memory of ...
“Mad for Dance” dedicated to Janet Hamburg, former dance professor, raises money ...
Jayhawks say goodbye to Thomas Robinson's mother
The Kansas men's basketball team flew to Washington, D.C., to honor Lisa ...
Student will be remembered for her attitude
Rachel Leek’s friends said they appreciated her enthusiasm for the simple things ...
Bond funding library renovations up for vote
If approved, the bond will help fund a library expansion, a larger ...
Two students killed in car crash
Two seniors died in a head-on collision on K-32 highway in Leavenworth ...
Carjacking leads to charges of robbery and ...
Former student Brandon Fauntleroy-McDowel was recently murdered.
Friends, family remember student Jana Mackey
The KU graduate was remembered as being beautiful, intelligent and and an ...
Protestor still stands for beliefs
After being expelled from the University of Kansas, Caroljean Brune now works ...
Puckett remembered in department ceremony
Longtime accompanist died of a heart attack Nov. 3.
Malicious Intimacy: Jana and Fito
A Legacy Continued: student-activist's work carries on despite man's fatal deception
Celebrating victory against breast cancer
The softball team hosted a Pink in the Park game in support ...
Events support breast cancer awareness
Two softball players whose mothers battled the disease will participate in Saturday’s ...
Profiles of Candidates
Crowd overcomes traffic
Westbound Clinton Parkway turned into a parking lot with a tailgate party ...
Pharmacy student dies at home in Olathe
Sara Schebler, a pharmacy student, died on Monday, the University said.
A staggering tragedy
Friends and family look for answers while struggling to cope with an ...
KU senior's "broken heart" leaves family, friends ...
Friends of the former KU senior who died July 29 from Marfan ...
Sales of the death men
America's funeral homes will see 2.5 million people pass through their doors ...
Malicious Intimacy: Chloe and Luke
Violent Suppression: artist re-emerges after half a decade of abuse
Freshman found dead on campus was Mt. ...
The freshman was known as goofy and hilarious to his friends.
Friends and family remember slain law student
A memorial service Monday night brought people together in remembrance of Jana ...
Wrecking Your Ride
After recovering from the initial shock of crashing your car, what do ...
Fearless Joe Mortensen
The All Big-12 linebacker came to Kansas after breaking all of his ...
Striving for parental acceptance
Gay and lesbian students at the University of Kansas have revealed their ...
No bad blood between Self, Illinois
The Jayhawks say they aren't using Self's connections to Illinois for motivation ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Life of student killed in crash remembered
So sad... my thoughts go out to friends and family. She sounded great, it's a shame we have to lose such good jayhawks.
Life of student killed in crash remembered
Just wondering, was alcohol involved? Hope not, but if it was, why not reported? Might hurt the sales at the football games?
My heart and prayers go out to the family. A loss, no matter what the reason.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID