Morgan Faulkner

Preceded in death by maternal grandparents, Dean R. and Willa Mae Polly; and uncle, Robert R. Polly, all of Halfway, MO. Survived by parents, Doug Faulkner and Deanna Polly-Faulkner of Wichita, KS; paternal grandparents, Hubert and Cecelia Faulkner of Hutchinson, KS; several aunts, uncles, and cousins: Jody Polly of Springfield, MO; Donna Polly of Bolivar, MO; Daniel (Kim) Faulkner of Marysville, KS; Matt (Terri) Faulkner of Fredericksburg, VA; Jennifer (Larry) Friend of Wichita, Sara (Jeremy) Gentry of Hutchinson, KS; and Robert (Diana) Faulkner of Locust Grove, VA; maternal cousins, Rebekah Polly (Justin Gault) of Rogersville, MO, Rachel Polly (Chris Loss) of St. Louis, MO, and Gabriel Polly of Bolivar, MO; paternal cousins, Austin (Jacqueline) Faulkner, Amber (Michael) Hassenritter of Fredericksburg, VA; Dustin Faulkner and Braeton Faulkner of Marysville, KS; Camryn, Eva, and Norah Goertz and Junior Gentry of Hutchinson, KS; second cousins, Edsel (Becky) Matthews of Fair Grove, MO , Buanna (Dan) Beach of Springfield, MO; Carol (Joe) Pyles of Fair Grove, MO; Janice Polly-Hawkins of Santa Paula, CA; Don (Sherry Roderick) of Halfway, MO; L.J. (Elaine Sherrick) Polly and Steve Polly of Topeka, KS; Jeanne (Tim) Lavelle of Fairfax, VA; Judy Southard of Wilson, N.C.; Robert (Tabitha) Polly of Memphis, TN; Donna Polly of Denver, CO.

Morgan Douglas Faulkner was born March 10, 1995, and it didn’t take long for Morgan to start learning computer skills while sitting on his father’s knee at the age of 18 months. This progressed to computer learning games and eventually becoming a skilled technician and gamer. As he grew up, his fun focus progressed from stuffed animals to hot wheels cars and monster trucks, then Legos, followed by Star Wars action figures and light sabers, Pokemon, model-building, Xbox, air-soft guns and games, and then of course, more Xbox and computer gaming. Along with all of them, popcorn reigned supreme in the snacking department!

Morgan had attended Discovery Place Pre-school, Bostic Traditional Magnet Elementary, Allison Traditional Magnet Middle School, and Trinity Academy High School. He was an avid reader, known to have hid a Harry Potter book behind another schoolbook in second grade so he could try to fool the teacher into thinking he was doing his math assignment. Morgan decided on violin for his music instrument of choice in 4th grade, playing in the school orchestra at Bostic and Allison while also taking private lessons. He participated in various youth sports, including t-ball, soccer, gymnastics, basketball, cross country in middle school, and played football his freshman and sophomore years at Trinity Academy. However, Morgan never fully embraced or enjoyed them. His first love remained with computers and electronics, eventually becoming involved with the Geek Club at Trinity where he was vice-president, and then president his junior and senior years.

From early on, he loved having friends over for just clowning around, watching movies, but mostly ….what else? Xbox and computer games. And for such occasions, his parents kept the pantry well stocked with popcorn.

After middle school, Morgan was accepted into the rigorous college prep. East High International Baccalaureate program, but instead chose to attend Trinity Academy, where he thrived in academics and was also involved in many activities including debate, forensics, scholar’s bowl, student ambassadors, jazz band (where he traded his violin for the guitar), drumline, National Honor Society, and joined the technical support team for fine arts and other productions. After unsuccessfully running for class office every year, he persisted and was elected president of his senior class. As a junior he was chosen to participate in the WSU Dean’s Scholarship program, attaining a scholarship at the end of his senior year. He attended WSU for one year, experiencing dorm life and a full load of classes, but struggled to maintain focus and decided to take a gap year the following year. The mental health issues that had plagued him from early childhood were raging as he approached adulthood and came to the forefront in his daily life. Uncertain about his goals and desires, he worked and took a class or two at WSU, and also tackled a CompTIA A+ certification, which demonstrated his extraordinary understanding of hardware and software technology used in businesses worldwide. He was still uncertain of his vocational direction.

In September of 2016, he undertook a life-changing challenge course through the Outward Bound School, spending 30 days with 8 young men and two leaders in the Colorado wilderness, learning camping, survival skills, self-exploration, and goal-setting. By the end of the course, he had decided to take his mother’s offer to work full-time in the Polly-Faulkner Insurance Agency of Shelter Insurance. He started immediately upon return from Outward Bound. Within 40 days, he had studied for, taken, and passed the Property/Casualty insurance licensing exam, thus becoming a licensed agency assistant. This continued his former trend of achieving whatever he put his mind to. He was currently working in that capacity up to the time of his passing. His presence in the office will be sorely missed.

Morgan’s current avocational goal was to write and produce digital music , and DJ at parties and other events. He was well on his way toward this goal , having purchased equipment and produced some recordings.

For the family and myriads of friends he leaves behind, who mourn that his 22 years with us was way too short, he will be remembered for his unique personality, quick wit, brilliant mind, tremendous potential for many things yet to be fulfilled, and devotion to his dog “Jake”. No, not Jake from State Farm, but, Jake THE Dog.

Morgan, your winsome smile and beautiful soul have been a blessing to many, many people, whose lives you have touched in these past 22 years and 18 days, more than you ever realized, and most especially, your devoted and loving parents. Now that your soul was tormented by this wayward and confusing world in ways none of us completely understood, nor could any doctor find a way to fix, can rest in peace in the arms of the only perfect man who ever walked this earth, Christ Jesus.

Visitation

Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm, Sunday, April 2, 2017 Place: Broadway Mortuary
1147 S. Broadway St., Wichita, KS 67211

Funeral Service

Time: 1:30pm, Monday, April 3, 2017 Place: Central Christian Church
2900 N. Rock Road, Wichita, KS 67226

Burial

Place: Kensington Gardens
11500 E. 21st St. N., Wichita, KS 67206

Memorials

NAMI
National Alliance on Mental Health
3803 N. Fairfax Dr., Ste 100
Arlington, VA 22203

Trinity Academy
12345 E. 21st Street
Wichita, KS 67206

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