William (Bill) Francis Morton Jr. returned to his Heavenly Father's Home, and to the Savior whom he loved and served, on March 7, 2010 from his home in Vernal, Utah following a gradual decline in health over the last few years.
Bill was born on June 21, 1925 in Vernal, at his grandfather Southam's home on Ashley Creek to William Francis and Ethel Southam Morton. When he was seven years old his family moved to Fallon, Nevada where he helped his father run a grocery store and the family ranch. At eight he began driving truck for the store and at twelve was presented a drivers license by the local Public Service Officer (forerunner of the Highway Patrol) becoming the youngest person ever to have a drivers license in the state of Nevada.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943 and trained as a radio operator and as an aerial gunner. Bill was a member of the 858th bombardment Squadron and later the OSS and was stationed in the Central European Theater during World War II. After the war he remained in Europe and helped set up the European Transport Command.
After his military service, he returned to Nevada where he met the love of his life, Molliedean Stockton. They were married on June 27, 1947 in Goldfield, Nevada. They were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. Bill and Molliedean raised eight children, Jane (Don) Houghton, Magna, Utah; Christine (Chuck) Johnson, Woodstock, IL; David (Diane Montgomery) Morton, Vernal; John (Diane Powell) Morton, Dutch John, Utah; Marsha (Tom) Perry, Avalon, Utah; Carol (Lee) Burns, Thermopolis, Wyo; Shelly (Robert) Bodily, Vernal and Valerie (Kevin) Merkley, Boston, MA.
Bill worked hard every day to provide for his family and community. In his younger years he worked as a carpenter and a truck driver. He worked on many projects throughout the west including Flaming Gorge and Steinaker Dams. He drove truck for Hatchco hauling phosphate to the Wasatch Front for many years. He also hauled and sold produce. As an entrepreneur he ran his own electric business, W F Morton Electric and later a salvage yard, he also owned and operated his own semitruck. He always helped and supported his children, family, friends, neighbors and the community at large. Bill also held many callings in the LDS Church including, High Councilor, Young Men's President, Sunday School Superintendant and Sunday School Teacher.
Bill loved life and all it had to offer. Bill lived as though the Savior walked beside him every day. He worked hard, was kind and honest, and strived to instill these same principles in his children and grandchildren. His family is grateful for such a loving and sweet father, grandfather, and great grandfather. His family remembers all the fun times with him.
Bill is survived by his wife of 63 years Molliedean; and by all of their children; 40 grandchildren and 64 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Betty Brown of New Braunfels, Texas and Carolina Loncar of Tonopah, Nevada. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dixie, Nevada, and Woody Morton; sister, Cora Virginia Manhire, son-in-law Charles Johnson, daughter-in-law Diane (Powell) Morton and great-grandson Tyler J. Kiever.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. in the Vernal, Utah Uintah Stake Center (4080 South 2500 East). Friends and family may call Friday, March 12, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary and from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. prior to the services at the Chapel.
Interment in the Vernal Memorial Park under the direction of the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary. Military Rites will be presented by the Utah Army National Guard and the American Legion Posts 124 & 11.
-Vernal Express, March 10, 2010
Bill was born on June 21, 1925 in Vernal, at his grandfather Southam's home on Ashley Creek to William Francis and Ethel Southam Morton. When he was seven years old his family moved to Fallon, Nevada where he helped his father run a grocery store and the family ranch. At eight he began driving truck for the store and at twelve was presented a drivers license by the local Public Service Officer (forerunner of the Highway Patrol) becoming the youngest person ever to have a drivers license in the state of Nevada.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943 and trained as a radio operator and as an aerial gunner. Bill was a member of the 858th bombardment Squadron and later the OSS and was stationed in the Central European Theater during World War II. After the war he remained in Europe and helped set up the European Transport Command.
After his military service, he returned to Nevada where he met the love of his life, Molliedean Stockton. They were married on June 27, 1947 in Goldfield, Nevada. They were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. Bill and Molliedean raised eight children, Jane (Don) Houghton, Magna, Utah; Christine (Chuck) Johnson, Woodstock, IL; David (Diane Montgomery) Morton, Vernal; John (Diane Powell) Morton, Dutch John, Utah; Marsha (Tom) Perry, Avalon, Utah; Carol (Lee) Burns, Thermopolis, Wyo; Shelly (Robert) Bodily, Vernal and Valerie (Kevin) Merkley, Boston, MA.
Bill worked hard every day to provide for his family and community. In his younger years he worked as a carpenter and a truck driver. He worked on many projects throughout the west including Flaming Gorge and Steinaker Dams. He drove truck for Hatchco hauling phosphate to the Wasatch Front for many years. He also hauled and sold produce. As an entrepreneur he ran his own electric business, W F Morton Electric and later a salvage yard, he also owned and operated his own semitruck. He always helped and supported his children, family, friends, neighbors and the community at large. Bill also held many callings in the LDS Church including, High Councilor, Young Men's President, Sunday School Superintendant and Sunday School Teacher.
Bill loved life and all it had to offer. Bill lived as though the Savior walked beside him every day. He worked hard, was kind and honest, and strived to instill these same principles in his children and grandchildren. His family is grateful for such a loving and sweet father, grandfather, and great grandfather. His family remembers all the fun times with him.
Bill is survived by his wife of 63 years Molliedean; and by all of their children; 40 grandchildren and 64 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Betty Brown of New Braunfels, Texas and Carolina Loncar of Tonopah, Nevada. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dixie, Nevada, and Woody Morton; sister, Cora Virginia Manhire, son-in-law Charles Johnson, daughter-in-law Diane (Powell) Morton and great-grandson Tyler J. Kiever.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. in the Vernal, Utah Uintah Stake Center (4080 South 2500 East). Friends and family may call Friday, March 12, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary and from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. prior to the services at the Chapel.
Interment in the Vernal Memorial Park under the direction of the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary. Military Rites will be presented by the Utah Army National Guard and the American Legion Posts 124 & 11.
-Vernal Express, March 10, 2010
William (Bill) Francis Morton Jr. returned to his Heavenly Father's Home, and to the Savior whom he loved and served, on March 7, 2010 from his home in Vernal, Utah following a gradual decline in health over the last few years.
Bill was born on June 21, 1925 in Vernal, at his grandfather Southam's home on Ashley Creek to William Francis and Ethel Southam Morton. When he was seven years old his family moved to Fallon, Nevada where he helped his father run a grocery store and the family ranch. At eight he began driving truck for the store and at twelve was presented a drivers license by the local Public Service Officer (forerunner of the Highway Patrol) becoming the youngest person ever to have a drivers license in the state of Nevada.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943 and trained as a radio operator and as an aerial gunner. Bill was a member of the 858th bombardment Squadron and later the OSS and was stationed in the Central European Theater during World War II. After the war he remained in Europe and helped set up the European Transport Command.
After his military service, he returned to Nevada where he met the love of his life, Molliedean Stockton. They were married on June 27, 1947 in Goldfield, Nevada. They were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. Bill and Molliedean raised eight children, Jane (Don) Houghton, Magna, Utah; Christine (Chuck) Johnson, Woodstock, IL; David (Diane Montgomery) Morton, Vernal; John (Diane Powell) Morton, Dutch John, Utah; Marsha (Tom) Perry, Avalon, Utah; Carol (Lee) Burns, Thermopolis, Wyo; Shelly (Robert) Bodily, Vernal and Valerie (Kevin) Merkley, Boston, MA.
Bill worked hard every day to provide for his family and community. In his younger years he worked as a carpenter and a truck driver. He worked on many projects throughout the west including Flaming Gorge and Steinaker Dams. He drove truck for Hatchco hauling phosphate to the Wasatch Front for many years. He also hauled and sold produce. As an entrepreneur he ran his own electric business, W F Morton Electric and later a salvage yard, he also owned and operated his own semitruck. He always helped and supported his children, family, friends, neighbors and the community at large. Bill also held many callings in the LDS Church including, High Councilor, Young Men's President, Sunday School Superintendant and Sunday School Teacher.
Bill loved life and all it had to offer. Bill lived as though the Savior walked beside him every day. He worked hard, was kind and honest, and strived to instill these same principles in his children and grandchildren. His family is grateful for such a loving and sweet father, grandfather, and great grandfather. His family remembers all the fun times with him.
Bill is survived by his wife of 63 years Molliedean; and by all of their children; 40 grandchildren and 64 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Betty Brown of New Braunfels, Texas and Carolina Loncar of Tonopah, Nevada. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dixie, Nevada, and Woody Morton; sister, Cora Virginia Manhire, son-in-law Charles Johnson, daughter-in-law Diane (Powell) Morton and great-grandson Tyler J. Kiever.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. in the Vernal, Utah Uintah Stake Center (4080 South 2500 East). Friends and family may call Friday, March 12, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary and from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. prior to the services at the Chapel.
Interment in the Vernal Memorial Park under the direction of the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary. Military Rites will be presented by the Utah Army National Guard and the American Legion Posts 124 & 11.
-Vernal Express, March 10, 2010
Bill was born on June 21, 1925 in Vernal, at his grandfather Southam's home on Ashley Creek to William Francis and Ethel Southam Morton. When he was seven years old his family moved to Fallon, Nevada where he helped his father run a grocery store and the family ranch. At eight he began driving truck for the store and at twelve was presented a drivers license by the local Public Service Officer (forerunner of the Highway Patrol) becoming the youngest person ever to have a drivers license in the state of Nevada.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943 and trained as a radio operator and as an aerial gunner. Bill was a member of the 858th bombardment Squadron and later the OSS and was stationed in the Central European Theater during World War II. After the war he remained in Europe and helped set up the European Transport Command.
After his military service, he returned to Nevada where he met the love of his life, Molliedean Stockton. They were married on June 27, 1947 in Goldfield, Nevada. They were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. Bill and Molliedean raised eight children, Jane (Don) Houghton, Magna, Utah; Christine (Chuck) Johnson, Woodstock, IL; David (Diane Montgomery) Morton, Vernal; John (Diane Powell) Morton, Dutch John, Utah; Marsha (Tom) Perry, Avalon, Utah; Carol (Lee) Burns, Thermopolis, Wyo; Shelly (Robert) Bodily, Vernal and Valerie (Kevin) Merkley, Boston, MA.
Bill worked hard every day to provide for his family and community. In his younger years he worked as a carpenter and a truck driver. He worked on many projects throughout the west including Flaming Gorge and Steinaker Dams. He drove truck for Hatchco hauling phosphate to the Wasatch Front for many years. He also hauled and sold produce. As an entrepreneur he ran his own electric business, W F Morton Electric and later a salvage yard, he also owned and operated his own semitruck. He always helped and supported his children, family, friends, neighbors and the community at large. Bill also held many callings in the LDS Church including, High Councilor, Young Men's President, Sunday School Superintendant and Sunday School Teacher.
Bill loved life and all it had to offer. Bill lived as though the Savior walked beside him every day. He worked hard, was kind and honest, and strived to instill these same principles in his children and grandchildren. His family is grateful for such a loving and sweet father, grandfather, and great grandfather. His family remembers all the fun times with him.
Bill is survived by his wife of 63 years Molliedean; and by all of their children; 40 grandchildren and 64 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Betty Brown of New Braunfels, Texas and Carolina Loncar of Tonopah, Nevada. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dixie, Nevada, and Woody Morton; sister, Cora Virginia Manhire, son-in-law Charles Johnson, daughter-in-law Diane (Powell) Morton and great-grandson Tyler J. Kiever.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. in the Vernal, Utah Uintah Stake Center (4080 South 2500 East). Friends and family may call Friday, March 12, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary and from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. prior to the services at the Chapel.
Interment in the Vernal Memorial Park under the direction of the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary. Military Rites will be presented by the Utah Army National Guard and the American Legion Posts 124 & 11.
-Vernal Express, March 10, 2010
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