September 15, 2025

Published in the Linn County News Sept. 17, 2025

Morgan Leon Wakefield was called home to heaven on September 9, 2025. Morgan was born May 8, 1996, in Olathe, Kan., to Shane and Debbie (Snyder) Wakefield of Mound City, Kan. From an early age, he showed a love for the outdoors and anything with a motor. If it didn’t have a motor, he would make the motor noises for it, LOUDLY playing with trucks, tractors, and Hot Wheels everywhere in the house. Morgan probably farmed more acres of carpet than he ever did with a real tractor.

A Busy Bug 4-H club member, an adventurous driver on a four-wheeler, and an outlandish storyteller. Morgan excelled in wood shop and welding in high school, creating several pieces that are still used and loved by family members. His wild antics and thrill for escapades gave Shane and Debbie some early gray hairs.

Graduating from Jayhawk-Linn High School in 2014, Morgan went on to attend Missouri Welding Institute in Nevada, Mo., the following summer. Name an industry that required working outside, and Morgan worked in it, welding, operating heavy equipment, and serving as a volunteer firefighter for multiple departments in southeast Kansas.

Morgan was welcomed into heaven by his maternal grandfather, George “June” Snyder, Jr., maternal great-grandmother Mary Elizabeth Snyder, paternal great-grandmother Leta Mae Barney, beloved dog Buck, and too many good horses to count. He is survived by his parents, Shane and Debbie Wakefield, sister Allison Raines, brother-in-law Jonathan Raines, paternal grandparents David and Peggy, maternal grandmother Carol Snyder, and his sorrel horse Ace.

Morgan will be remembered for taking ginormous portions of his favorite foods, playing his music way too loud, putting thousands of miles on a motorcycle, and for crazy stories that you can only question, “Why did you think that was a good idea?”

He was ready to take on any project with outside-the-box thinking, driving anything with a motor, and always helping a friend or family member in need without a question of what was in it for him. May we always remember your constant smile, wild antics, and stories for many years to come.

Memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025 at the Mound City Christian Church. Burial will be in the Curry Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15 at the Schneider Funeral Home, Mound City Chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Christian Church Youth Group. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.