Bonnie Morton

Bonnie Lee (Wright) Morton, 88, of Coatsburg passed away on Sunday October 2, 2016, surrounded by the love of her family, at Blessing Hospital, after a brief hospital stay.

Bonnie was born on April 29, 1928 at home in Mendon to Sidney and Alice Pearl (Houdyshell) Wright. She married Gerald Duane Morton on August 14, 1948.

Bonnie graduated from Mendon High School in 1946 as class valedictorian. She attended Western Illinois University. She was employed at Moorman Manufacturing prior to becoming a full-time homemaker and loving mother. With her husband Gerald, she established the Morton Tree Farm in the 1950s, resulting in the happy tradition of tree sales for many Christmas seasons.

Bonnie was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Mendon. She was baptized, confirmed and wed at Salem Lutheran and was a long time Sunday school teacher and volunteer. She was active with 4-H clubs, serving as a 4-H leader for over fifteen years. Bonnie was an avid reader and Trivial Pursuit master and played a wicked game of croquet. Most of all, Bonnie enjoyed her family.

Bonnie cherished sixty–one years of marriage to her husband, Gerald who passed away on December 29, 2009.

Bonnie leaves memories of joy and laughter with her family, her six children, Michael Morton and his wife Rena of Carolina Beach, North Carolina, Randy Morton of rural Coatsburg, Kathy Crandall and her husband Mike of Winnebago, Illinois, Debbie Hamilton and her husband Dave of Quincy, Dave Morton and his wife Jill of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Beth Parrott and her husband Julian of Urbana, Illinois; eight grandchildren, Michel Morton, Joshua Crandall and his wife Ali, Adam Crandall, Ben Hamilton and his wife Jamie, Max Morton, Molly Morton, Anwen Parrott and Jack Parrott; one great grandchild, Eleanor Hamilton, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is survived by her sister and best friend, Doris (Wright) Bross.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister Helen (Wright) Barry and her brother Sidney (Bud) Wright.

A celebration of Bonnie’s life will be held on Thursday, October 6, 2016 10:00 A.M at Salem Lutheran Church in Mendon, with Reverend Jim Trutwin officiating. Private interment will be in the Paloma Cemetery in Paloma. Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M until 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at Hunter Funeral Home in Mendon. Memorial contributions may be made to Salem Lutheran Church or to Ready.Set.Grow/United Way in support of their books for families with new babies program, to honor Bonnie’s love of literature and nurturing young lives. You are invited to share memories of Bonnie and leave condolences at www.hunterfuneralhomes.com