Kevin Thomas Morgan

Kevin Thomas Morgan, 70, of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, passed away on March 29, 2026.

Kevin was born on February 15, 1956, to Joseph E. and Patria Mae (Collins) Morgan. A lifelong resident of Excelsior Springs, he loved his hometown deeply and devoted much of his life to documenting, preserving, and serving the community he cherished. He attended Park College for two years, where he studied photography and music, two passions that would remain with him throughout his life.

On October 26, 1978, Kevin married Sonya Mercer. Together, they built a life rooted in family, faith, creativity, and service. They worked for the Morgan family newspapers, the Town & Country Leader and The Daily Standard, and later owned Morgan Printing and Morgansites.com, a website development and marketing company. Their children, Courtney and Joseph, carry on that work today through Morgansites.

Kevin gave generously of himself to others. He was one of the founding board members of the Good Samaritan Center and served there as a case manager. Later, he continued that work as a case manager for the North Kansas City Salvation Army. He was also a past president of the Excelsior Springs Chamber of Commerce, served on the Excelsior Springs Park & Recreation Board, was a past president of the Excelsior Springs Museum and Archives, and supported the Downtown Excelsior Partnership.

Kevin was a gifted professional photographer, widely known for capturing the beauty, culture, history, and natural world of Excelsior Springs and the surrounding area. Through his camera, he helped his community see its home differently. He reframed the world around us, drawing attention to the beauty in local landscapes, trees, butterflies, birds, creeks, fossils, and wildlife that others might have passed by without noticing. His photography instilled in many a deeper appreciation for the natural world and for the quiet wonder found close to home.

His curiosity and intellect shaped every part of his life. Kevin was a dedicated flutist who taught himself to read and play music, mastering scales and styles and especially enjoying jazz, a love first instilled in him by his father. He loved jamming with friends. He read deeply on the theologies of many religions while remaining a believer in Jesus Christ. He was an amateur archaeologist who studied the Native American heritage of the Excelsior Springs area and worked with the Missouri Archaeological Society on digs, identifying artifacts and helping understand the people who once lived here. He could never pass a freshly plowed field without slowing down to look for flint.

Kevin also studied local fossils with the mind of a scientist and the wonder of a seeker. One fossil he discovered was examined by the UMKC Geology Department, where he was told it may have represented a previously unidentified specimen for this area. He loved history and politics, read the news daily, and believed in paying attention to the world around him. With his camera, he documented public life and moments of civic expression across Missouri, including marches, rallies, demonstrations, and movements for justice.

Kevin was sarcastic, witty, clever, and deeply intellectual, but above all he had a heart full of empathy. He cared deeply for the poor, the overlooked, and the downtrodden. He believed communities were strongest when they cared for one another.

In 2022, Kevin and Sonya were honored with a McReynolds Award by Missouri Preservation for their steadfast advocacy, historic preservation efforts, and ongoing commitment to the Excelsior Springs community. Together, they devoted countless hours to preserving local history, improving their community, and helping others value the rich story of Excelsior Springs. Kevin’s photography documented downtown events and developments, archaeological excavations at Regent Spring, and the very spirit of the town he loved.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph E. and Patria Mae Morgan; his brother, Patrick Morgan; his brother-in-law, Charlie Roberts; his nephew, Thomas K. Morgan; his great-nephew, Robert Gantt, Jr.; and his father- and mother-in-law, Ramon and Joyce Mercer; and special friend, Doris Lukens.

Kevin is survived by his wife, Sonya Morgan; his daughter, Courtney Cole and husband Jason; his son, Joseph Morgan and wife Darci; his granddaughter, Mackenzie Cole; his sisters, Shannon Morgan and Molly Roberts; his sister and brother-in-law, Jill and John Clark of Excelsior Springs; his sister-in-law, Verna Morgan; his sister-in-law, Lisa Nave; his brother-in-law, Dallas Mercer and wife Laura; numerous nieces and nephews; and his best friend Joe McAtee and wife Marcia, whom Kevin considered family.

A visitation will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Arbor Day, Friday, April 24, 2026, followed by a memorial service at 2:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

Arrangements are in care of Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs.