Larry James Morton

Funeral services for Larry Morton, 93, will be held Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton. Interment will be at the Chariton Cemetery followed by a luncheon for a time of fellowship and sharing at the funeral home.

Family will receive friends on Monday, January 2, 2023, from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton. Memorials are requested to Larry’s family to be designated at a later date.

Larry James Morton the oldest of four sons born to Graydon and Irene Morton was born at home on a farm near Gosport on June 3, 1929. He grew up in Marion and Lucas counties as the family found work by renting and farming different farms during the Great Depression. He graduated from Chariton High School in 1947 and was married to Gloria Housman in January of 1948. They were blessed with four children: Yvonne, Jerry, Naomi, and Stephen.

Larry was very talented and could do many things. He farmed and worked for Lucas County as a heavy equipment operator, he was a salesman in equipment sales, and put up a chicken house with 26,000 laying hens. He also was a private contractor for Larry Morton Conservation Construction for 10 years. He enjoyed life on the farm and after retiring and losing his wife Gloria in 2010, Larry began to drive the Amish. He loved getting to know his Amish friends as he drove them all over the state. He was able to enjoy this until he turned 90 and retired again.

He was a man of much knowledge and many talents. He was a Woodsmith, making all kinds of farm machinery and heavy equipment models, and he made every grandchild a clock, and nearly every great grandchild a jewelry box. He was very knowledgeable about almost any subject, but he was even a greater teacher. He loved to share his knowledge and loved to tell stories. He shared his deep faith with his family and friends. Larry was a Christian man and proud of it. His life was well lived and modeled after his love of the Lord. Next to his faith his family was the greatest joy in his life. He was very proud of his family.

Larry passed away December 29, 2022, after a short decline in health. He was able to stay at home until just a few weeks before his passing, living a long life filled with many joys. Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Gloria; children: daughter, Yvonne Hayward; son, Stephen and daughter-in-law, Judi Morton; grandsons: Mark and Jay Adcock; and brothers: Gerald and Junior Morton.

He will be greatly missed by his children: Jerry (Viola) Morton and Naomi (Pat) Altenhofen; son-in-law, Jim Hayward; 10 grandchildren: Michelle (Jeff) Sass, Joe Hayward, Andrea LeMeuse, Shannon (Joe) Allwood, Todd (Nicki) Adcock, Jeremy (Rose) Morton, Jody (Darrel) Brown, Brandi Walker, Melissa Bankson, and Mike Morton; 26 great grandchildren: Kaylee Hayward, Gabby Hayward, Jason Kelley, Joshua Kelley, Amanda Kelley, Allison Chapman, Alycia Rucker, Crystal Morton, Aden Cook, Bralee Cook, Leam Cook, Robyn Easley, Nathan Allwood, Calvin Allwood, Kaylee Jones, Kody Jones, Joselynn McKenna, Patrick Brown, Kelsey Hoy, Ryan Brown, Matthias Brown, Adeline Brown, Ella Brown, Ashley Stegman, Stephanie Butrum, and Anthony Strange; and 18 great-great grandchildren; brother, Don Morton; along with many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

The service will be livestreamed through the following link: https://my.gather.app/remember/larry-morton-2022