Orono, Maine - Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Joyce W. Morton, 95, peacefully passed away on August 9, 2024 at the Maine Veterans' Home.
Joyce was born on November 7, 1928 in Fort Fairfield, Maine, the daughter of Fred E. Wilson and Mildred Inez (Clark) Wilson. She was a life-long learner and lover of literature, particularly of Jane Austen’s novels, and took great pride in her family, including her husband, four children and several great-grandchildren.
Joyce’s quick wit and talent with words began early in life. Though her education began in a one-room schoolhouse, her grandfather noted she was a “smart young lady” and fought to allow her to attend the town school. Once there, she quickly began to distinguish herself, moving from the lowest classes in high school to college preparatory classes. When she graduated, she had earned top grades and was recognized as a great writer and independent thinker.
High school was where she met her husband of over seventy years, Douglas Miller Morton, whom she helped tutor in his literature classes. They married shortly after graduation, just before Douglas left to serve in the Korean War. Over the years, they would welcome four children: sons Douglas and Duncan, born while the couple resided in student married housing at the University of Maine, and son Robb and daughter Marybeth, born after the family moved to Connecticut. She was active in the Rocky Hill United Methodist Church community, volunteering at suppers, Christmas craft fairs and other family activities.
Joyce took great pride in her children and their accomplishments. A testament to Joyce’s encouragement and support, all four children grew up to become distinguished professionals in their chosen fields: as a doctor, an architect, a certified public accountant and a system safety engineer.
Professionally, Joyce had a long and successful career as a teacher, earning a master’s degree and a Professional Teaching Certificate. She taught remedial reading and speech to students with learning disabilities, and served as an Adjunct Professor in language at St. Joseph College. She was named Teacher of the Year for the State of Connecticut and also listed in Who's Who in American Education. She was also the author of two published Gothic romance novels, inspired by her upbringing in Aroostook County, and had many articles published in several magazines.
Even after she retired, Joyce’s passion for writing and literature was evident. She continued to write poems and short stories throughout her life and taught classes on Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and other Victorian authors to the Dirigo Pines retirement community residents. She was a voracious reader throughout her life, always searching for new literary criticism and passing books between family members who shared her passion.
Joyce was also an avid puzzler, diligently completing at least one crossword puzzle a day and constantly searching for the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle, which she was inevitably convinced was missing. Doug and Joyce made the most of their retirement, traveling to countless states and countries through over 90 Road Scholar programs. For decades after their retirement, Doug and Joyce religiously went out to breakfast every day, forming many friendships over cups of coffee, bowls of oatmeal, and silver dollar pancakes.
Family was incredibly important to Joyce, who took great joy in visiting her children and grand-children around the country and in frequent phone calls. From trips to Scotland to Christmases in her living room, a gathering of the Morton family was always filled with laughter, in no small part because of Joyce’s wit. She was the much-loved glue that held her family together and her loss will be deeply felt.
She is survived by her husband Douglas, as well as son Douglas and his wife Lois; son Duncan; daughter Marybeth; and daughter-in-law Valerie. She also leaves behind four grandchildren: Sarah (Morton) Senty, Rebecca (Morton) Ahmed, Katherine Revello, and Alexander Revello, and several great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her son Robb.
A graveside service will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 15, 2024 at Riverside Cemetery, Bennoch Road, Orono.
In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to the University of Maine Foundation. Two Alumni Place, Orono, Maine 04469.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joyce Morton, please visit our flower store.
Joyce was born on November 7, 1928 in Fort Fairfield, Maine, the daughter of Fred E. Wilson and Mildred Inez (Clark) Wilson. She was a life-long learner and lover of literature, particularly of Jane Austen’s novels, and took great pride in her family, including her husband, four children and several great-grandchildren.
Joyce’s quick wit and talent with words began early in life. Though her education began in a one-room schoolhouse, her grandfather noted she was a “smart young lady” and fought to allow her to attend the town school. Once there, she quickly began to distinguish herself, moving from the lowest classes in high school to college preparatory classes. When she graduated, she had earned top grades and was recognized as a great writer and independent thinker.
High school was where she met her husband of over seventy years, Douglas Miller Morton, whom she helped tutor in his literature classes. They married shortly after graduation, just before Douglas left to serve in the Korean War. Over the years, they would welcome four children: sons Douglas and Duncan, born while the couple resided in student married housing at the University of Maine, and son Robb and daughter Marybeth, born after the family moved to Connecticut. She was active in the Rocky Hill United Methodist Church community, volunteering at suppers, Christmas craft fairs and other family activities.
Joyce took great pride in her children and their accomplishments. A testament to Joyce’s encouragement and support, all four children grew up to become distinguished professionals in their chosen fields: as a doctor, an architect, a certified public accountant and a system safety engineer.
Professionally, Joyce had a long and successful career as a teacher, earning a master’s degree and a Professional Teaching Certificate. She taught remedial reading and speech to students with learning disabilities, and served as an Adjunct Professor in language at St. Joseph College. She was named Teacher of the Year for the State of Connecticut and also listed in Who's Who in American Education. She was also the author of two published Gothic romance novels, inspired by her upbringing in Aroostook County, and had many articles published in several magazines.
Even after she retired, Joyce’s passion for writing and literature was evident. She continued to write poems and short stories throughout her life and taught classes on Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and other Victorian authors to the Dirigo Pines retirement community residents. She was a voracious reader throughout her life, always searching for new literary criticism and passing books between family members who shared her passion.
Joyce was also an avid puzzler, diligently completing at least one crossword puzzle a day and constantly searching for the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle, which she was inevitably convinced was missing. Doug and Joyce made the most of their retirement, traveling to countless states and countries through over 90 Road Scholar programs. For decades after their retirement, Doug and Joyce religiously went out to breakfast every day, forming many friendships over cups of coffee, bowls of oatmeal, and silver dollar pancakes.
Family was incredibly important to Joyce, who took great joy in visiting her children and grand-children around the country and in frequent phone calls. From trips to Scotland to Christmases in her living room, a gathering of the Morton family was always filled with laughter, in no small part because of Joyce’s wit. She was the much-loved glue that held her family together and her loss will be deeply felt.
She is survived by her husband Douglas, as well as son Douglas and his wife Lois; son Duncan; daughter Marybeth; and daughter-in-law Valerie. She also leaves behind four grandchildren: Sarah (Morton) Senty, Rebecca (Morton) Ahmed, Katherine Revello, and Alexander Revello, and several great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her son Robb.
A graveside service will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 15, 2024 at Riverside Cemetery, Bennoch Road, Orono.
In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to the University of Maine Foundation. Two Alumni Place, Orono, Maine 04469.
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