Richard (Dick) Hunt Morton passed away Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, at the age of 87. He was surrounded by family at the home he shared with his wife, Dee Lynette Magnuson Morton, at Riverview Retirement Community in Spokane, Washington.
Dick is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dee; daughters Heather, Heidi (Hannah Blackburn) Morton, and Roberta (John) Bottelli; grandchildren Monica Clara Morton and Kristopher Richard Pierson; sister Carolyn Morton Tuttle; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister Margaret Pierce and brother Harry Robert (Bob) Morton.
Dick was born in Hornell, New York, to parents Harry Kemp Morton and Cora Hunt Morton. Growing up on a farm in rural New York meant a life filled with animals and outdoor adventures, instilling in him a lifelong appreciation and love of the outdoors. He received his Bachelor of Science in industrial arts from the State University of New York in Buffalo before moving west to Washington state.
Dick’s plan was to teach in Alaska, but he stopped at his brother Rev. Robert Morton’s church in Tacoma, Washington, where he was captivated by a talented young organist and musician—his future wife, Dee. They married in 1965 and settled in Tacoma while Dee finished her bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Puget Sound and Dick continued his service in the U.S. Army National Guard. After Dee’s graduation and Dick’s honorable discharge, the couple moved to Shelton, Washington, where Dick began teaching, completed his master’s degree in educational administration, and became a school principal.
Shelton was the perfect place for Dick to hike and climb with his lifelong friend B. Frank Heuston, and the pair summited peaks throughout the Cascades and Olympics. Three daughters followed: Heather, Heidi, and Roberta. Dad and daughters enjoyed many excursions into the mountains.
In 1975, the Morton family moved to Kendrick, Idaho, where Dick became superintendent of schools. The family relocated to Emmett, Idaho, in 1980, where Dick continued establishing his reputation as a superintendent of uncompromising integrity, making tough decisions for the good of students. The family moved back to the Pacific Northwest in 1985 when Dick became superintendent of schools in Morton, Washington, returning the family to the heart of the Cascade Mountains. Weekends were spent shuttling Heidi and Roberta to and from Tacoma for music lessons and rehearsals and hiking in and around Mount Rainier National Park.
Dick and Dee retired to Burnt Ridge near Onalaska, Washington, with a beautiful view of Mount St. Helens and a palatial woodshop. Always a tinkerer and master woodworker, Dick enjoyed working on their home and spending time with his grandchildren, Monica and Kristopher.
The next move brought the pair to Carlyon Beach on Puget Sound, closer to daughter Heather and her children. Their time was filled with walks along the water, counting eagles, and watching for whales, all under the watchful eye of Mount Rainier.
One final move brought the couple to a cottage in Riverview Retirement Community in 2022, following daughter Heather’s move to Spokane, where Roberta and her husband, John, also reside. Richard could be seen most days enjoying the trails around Riverview, telling stories, and connecting with residents while taking in the fresh air. Unfortunately, heart failure and Alzheimer’s took their toll, eventually leading to his death.
A memorial service will be held at the Riverview Retirement Village Chapel in Spokane, Washington, at 11 a.m. on April 12. A reception will follow. The family requests that anyone wishing to make a donation in Dick’s honor contribute to Habitat for Humanity, a charitable organization Dick and Dee supported and respected.
