Marion Morton

On Tuesday May 12, 2020, Marion E. Morton, loving wife and mother of three daughters was called home by the Lord at the age of 93.

Marion was born to David and Margaret Sheppard (nee Clarke) in Bristol, England on May 31, 1926. She was adored by her father, and he nicknamed her “little big ear” and remained his treasured daughter.  Later she became the proud sister to her siblings; Michael, Faith, Derek, Peter, and Ruth. Marion was raised in Bristol. and after secondary school obtained her degree from the Domestic Sciences School of England.  WWII broke out, she became a telephone operator at the Bristol Telephone Exchange where she met her lifelong friend Elaine Litherland, a friendship that lasted 74 years. It is during this time she met her husband Robert Morton who as an American Army soldier was billeted a few houses down from her home.  They were married February 12, 1946 and soon thereafter she began her journey as a WWII bride traveling to the USA via ship coming through Ellis Island.

Marion and Robert started their life together in Birnamwood WI, after several years of marriage they were blessed with their first daughter Anne.  They later moved to Milwaukee, where Marion began a career as a Dental Assistant at Mortenson and Mortenson Dental Practice in downtown Milwaukee. This is when their second daughter Roberta (Bobbi) was born.  During this time Robert and Marion fostered over the years 21 babies, the 21st being their final daughter Marguerite (Peggy) whom the family fell in love with and later adopted.  Years later they returned once again to Birnamwood to become owners of Mort’s Pub, Marion continued her work as a dental assistant and later became a Nursing Assistant at Homme Home in Wittenberg. Their final move was to Madison where she babysat her grandchildren and enjoyed being a domestic engineer and finally apartment managers at Colonial View Apartments in Sun Prairie.  They welcomed their sons-in-law with open arms and hearts Allen Heller (Anne), Steve Sheppard (Bobbi) and John Rupnow, (Marguerite) and enjoyed being grandparents to Anne’s children (Tara and Dane), Bobbi’s (Summer and David) and Marguerite’s (Jabin and Jonah).  During Robert and Marion’s 58 years of marriage they held a deep abiding love for one another, and she was deeply cherished by Robert until his passing on April 22, 2004.

It is hard to put love into a paragraph:

Marion’s love for people and providing care for those in need was evident throughout her life.  In those 93 years she saw many things but still managed to hold an almost childlike wonder to the world around her and to grow in her faith with God.  She was able to return to her beloved England after 34 years and did so again numerous times throughout her life, seeing her cherished father and siblings. Watching her with her sisters and brothers and hearing them talk and then begin laughing brought joy to anyone seeing them and it was obvious the depth of the love they had for one another.

Marion used to say after the war she would never go without certain things which began her three greatest loves in life; coffee, Kleenex’s, and butter (and 3 squares of dark chocolate every night).  The greatest gift that she taught her girls through her strong Christian beliefs, was to have strength, love of learning, compassion for others, faith, graciousness, and deep sense of love for people.  This became evident in their career choices, teaching ministry/deaconess, health care, and working with individuals with disabilities.  To meet and know Marion was to know what a truly amazing woman she was, her final days at Oakwood Village were filled with nurses, CNAs, housekeeping, and kitchen staff stopping in to say good bye, to share that they loved her and that she held a special spot in their heart - she sincerely made a difference to people.  Her gentle heart and love for all people is the legacy she left to us all.

Marion was proceeded in death by her parents David and Margaret, loving husband Robert, cherished brothers Michael, Peter and Derek, and eldest granddaughter Summer, brothers-in law Edward and George and sister-in-law Josie.  She is survived by her children (spouses) Anne (Allen), Bobbi (Steve), Marguerite (John), grandchildren, (Tom), David (Beth), Tara (Josh), Dane (Amanda), Jabin, and Jonah, great grandchildren Jade, Porter and Benett, sisters Faith and Ruth, sisters-in-laws Jeanette and Maureen, her special friends Bob Jandl and Ellen Pamperin, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and countless friends and acquaintances.

A private family funeral will be held on Friday May 15, 2020 at Cress Funeral home with a memorial service and internment to be announced and held at a later date.

The family wishes to express its most sincere gratitude to the resident care staff at Oakwood Village East nursing facility for their tender care and attention the final three years of her life.