Cover photo for John Morton, Jr's Obituary
John Morton, Jr Profile Photo
1953 John 2020

John Morton, Jr

January 2, 1953 — August 1, 2020

Westernport

Swanton, MD

John Russell Morton, Jr., 67 of Swanton went to be with his Lord and Savior on August 1, 2020 at the University Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana due to injuries sustained from a bicycle accident.

Born, January 2, 1953, he was the son of the late John Morton Sr. and Freida Mae Morton.

John was a 1971 graduate of Bruce High School. He was a faithful member of the Westernport Church of the Brethren where he taught the Children’s Church for the past several years, served as a church Deacon, was Chairman of the Finance Committee and was a member of the Executive Board. John helped his church family in any way he could—from helping with church building and ground maintenance, helping with maintenance of Camp Galilee and serving as a camp counselor, serving dinners and washing dishes, going on mission trips with the Youth, making apple butter, delivering food and visiting with shut-ins, and helping church members with any of their individual needs.  When his father died early in John’s life, he took it upon himself to become the caretaker to his beloved Mother and his brothers and sisters. He admired and mirrored his mother’s strength, faith in God, love for family and profound work ethic. John retired in 2000 from the Laborer’s Local Union #616 after working 20 years as a laborer, ultimately retiring as a construction foreman with Carl Belt, Inc., having that title for the last 15 years of his career. Retirement; however, never slowed John down, and perhaps he worked even harder in his retirement as a handyman/Mr. Fix-It for not only his own family and church, but the entire Tri-Towns community and beyond. John found it hard to say no, and whenever anyone would ask, he was always ready and willing to lend his helping hands. He knew how to do almost anything when it comes to being handy—even building his family home from the ground up by himself, digging out and building his treasured pond, building his wife’s beauty shop in Westernport, MD, tending to his homeplace and helping on various projects and hobbies with his kids and grandkids.

Aside from spending time with his beloved wife and family and attending church, some of his passions include visiting local auctions, buying and selling car parts, attending car swap meets and auctions with his good friend, Clinton, tinkering with his huge collection of auction finds, feeding the fish in his pond while sitting in his favorite spot on his swing and enjoying the mountain breeze, fishing with his kids and grandkids, building and fixing things, deer hunting with his brothers, vacationing with his family, riding his beloved bicycle, taking “Pap” naps and telling Dad jokes just to make everyone laugh.  There was hardly a time when you didn’t see John without a kid tagging along or a baby in his arms, even when he was doing all of the above. He will truly be missed by all those who knew and loved him.

John is survived by his loving wife of over 49 years, Debra (Burke) Morton; and their children, John “Johnny” Morton and Diana DeCollo of Westernport, Jessica Paugh and fiancé , Arnold Pittman of Baltimore and Jamie Morton and wife, Kathy Lan Tran Morton of Biloxi, MS. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jeremy Morton and wife, Courtney Morton, Zack Morton, Kaleb Morton, Brianna Goddard, Sydni Nguyen, Lilyana Morton, Peter Pittman, Penny Pittman, Nicholas Pittman; and his great grandson, Lennon Morton. John is survived by his siblings, Edward Morton of Hagerstown, Kenneth Morton and wife, Kathy of Westernport, Dennis Morton and wife, Brenda of Swanton, Thomas Morton of McCoole, Harold Hines of Frederick, Ray Mayhew and wife, Bonnie of Biloxi, MS, Janice Beachy, Debra Bennett both of Mt. Lake Park, Rhonda Warnick and husband, Robert of Aurora, WV; his special friend, Clinton Bradley, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will be received at Boal Funeral Home, Westernport on Friday, August 7th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, August 8th from 1 to 2 p.m.

A funeral service will take place at the funeral home on Saturday, August 8th at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Diane May officiating.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Morton, Jr, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, August 7, 2020

6:30 - 8:30 pm (Eastern time)

Boal Funeral Home, Westernport

111 Church St, Westernport, MD 21562

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Visitation

Saturday, August 8, 2020

1:00 - 2:00 pm (Eastern time)

Boal Funeral Home, Westernport

111 Church St, Westernport, MD 21562

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Saturday, August 8, 2020

Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)

Boal Funeral Home, Westernport

111 Church St, Westernport, MD 21562

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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