Friends pay tribute to lost ‘light’

Crisp morning air greeted a solemn crowd of roughly two dozen CSC students and staff, gathered near Brooks Hall for a moment of silence to remember Chadron State student, Erica Chris Morgan, 19, who died Friday night in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 2 in Custer County. 

Morgan, a sophomore Geoscience major of Gibbon, died at the scene at about 9 p.m. Friday when the car she was driving collided head-on with a tractor-trailer about a mile west of Berwyn. A spokesman from the Custer County Sheriff’s office said the accident is still under investigation, and provided no further details before press time Wednesday. 

Funeral services were 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Faith United Church, Gibbon. The Rev. Mike Evans officiated, interment followed at Riverside Cemetery, Gibbon.

At CSC Morgan was an active member of the Geoscience program and president of the Natural Science Club. Her friends regarded her as someone who was full of light and friendship, who loved her Tabby cat, Milo, who also died in the accident. 

“She would’ve done anything for that cat,” said Madison Kinney, 19, sophomore of Gering.  

Many of her close friends said that same love and passion also extended to geology, noting she was “obsessed when it came to rocks.”

“She was my first friend on campus,” said Corey Griffen, 20, sophomore of Omaha. “She’s a crazy rock lady. Every time I walked into class, she would be excited, and her excitement would rub off. I’ll always miss that.”  

Other students concurred.

“She was a great friend,” said Dylan Kuzmic, 22, sophomore of Alliance. “She was a very wonderful person. Any day I’d run into her she always had a huge amount of positive energy that she carried with her. She had a very infectious enthusiasm.”

Morgan’s friends were not the only ones who thought highly of  her.

During Wednesday morning’s moment of silence, Geology Professor Michael Leite and Physical and Life Sciences Assistant Professor Tawny Tibbits spoke about how hard the loss of Morgan has been on the department. They said she will be greatly missed, and added that they were touched to see how the campus has come together to honor her. They also noted  the many friends she had from across campus departments. 

“She was really remarkable,” Leite said. “She came to Chadron State a little shy and a little unsure of herself, but she really knew what she wanted to do.” 

Wednesday evening, about 50 friends gathered at Wilson Park for a 6 p.m. candlelight vigil, where they read poems and exchanged fond stories about their relationship with Morgan. While the moments before the candles were lit were somber and silent, the moments after were filled with laughter as students who knew Morgan reminisced.  

“She was the closest friend I’ve ever had,” Kinney said. “It definitely left a huge hole in our group.” 

Morgan was born March 15, 2001, in Kearney, to Daren and Ida (Ropers) Morgan. She was raised in Gibbon and attended Gibbon High School, graduating with the class of 2019. 

She enjoyed drawing, painting and shooting pictures of anything she found beautiful. Morgan played the guitar and flute, and had a love for all animals. She also enjoyed working at Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Gibbon, and the relationships she made there. 

Morgan is survived by her parents, Daren and Ida Morgan of Gibbon; siblings, Cory Morgan and Jody Morgan, both of Kearney, and Diana Morgan of Gibbon; grandparents, Charlie and Claudia Morgan of North Loup; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family and friends. 

Morgan was preceded in death by her grandparents, Henry and Wanda Ropers. 

Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services were provided by O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services. 

Reporting Contributed by Gasper Dominici