Vernon M. Morton

Vernon Marmet Morton , age 96 of Linn, passed away Tuesday, January 27, 2015, at Linn Community Skilled Care surrounded by his family.

Vernon was born in Mansfield, Ohio on April 15, 1918, a son to the late Clyde and Beulah (Marmet) Morton. He was the eldest of seven siblings.

Hard times during the depression forced the family back to Osage County, where Clyde's family (Henry Clay and Georgia Morton) still farmed near Chamois. As the family gradually recovered economic footing, Vernon, his father and brothers founded Morton's Funeral Home in Linn in the 1930's.

Vernon graduated from Linn High School, served in the 45th infantry in WWII "liberating" Europe before coming home to marry Mary Ruth Dessieux on September 22, 1945. She preceded him in death on March 9, 2007, after 62 years of marriage and two children, Leah and Michael.

Vernon was a member and board advisor of St. John's Methodist Church, served as Osage County Coroner for a number of years, was a member of Linn Masonic Lodge #326 A.F. & A.M., Linn VFW Post # 4756, Linn Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance. But mostly to his family, he was the worker bee who kept all the home fires burning so that his family was able to live out their dreams.

Vernon is survived by: his two children, Leah Verne Morton MD and her husband Bruce Gollub MD of Santa Fe, NM and Michael Paul Morton and his longtime companion Bonnie B. Barbour of Linn; seven grandchildren, Heather Honea (Chuck Mitchell), Jonah Gollub, Andrew Morton (Christina), Kurtis Morton (Michelle), Rachael Gollub (Nicholas Zielinski), Megan Morton and Tyler Morton; seven great grandchildren, Ethan, Ava, Malak, Madelyn, Jacob, Lila Ruth and Halle Jane; a brother, Larry Gene Morton and his wife Jaydine of West Plains, Missouri; one sister, Shirley Morton of Dallas, Texas; a former daughter-in-law, Betty Herndon of Linn.

In addition to his spouse and his parents, Vernon was preceded in death by: three brothers, David "Dick" Morton, Bernard "Bernie" Morton and Glendale "Corky" Morton; and one sister, Geraldine "Gerry" McCarty.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2015, at Morton Chapel in Linn.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2015, at St. John's United Methodist Church in Linn with Rev. Floyd Gudde officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow in the Linn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to St. John's United Methodist Church.