Shirley L. Morton

July 26, 1929 - December 20, 2010

Shirley L. Morton Obituary Shirley Morton left her family and friends on Friday, December 10, 2010, after a long illness with heart disease. She was born in Dooley, Montana on July 26, 1929. When she was a very young girl her father relocated the family to Noxon, Montana where she lived until moving to Spokane in 1947. She married Eugene Morton in September of 1948 and has continued to reside in Spokane until her death. In spite of her illness the past 25 years, she was truly the matriarch of her large family. Relatives, friends and acquaintances were always welcome in her large home for delicious dinners, vacation, barbeques and fun conversations. She would hear of someone in need and be the first to help in anyway she could. Her charity included helping to provide money and needed supplies to women and children shelters through work with her Entre Nous club members. Shirley LOVED to play card games of any variety, but her favorite was bridge. She was often referred to as ?one of the finest bridge players in Spokane.? She would play several times a week. She also enjoyed playing a mean hand of poker with friends at card parties. Shirley was especially talented at creating outstanding holiday displays, decorating wedding cakes, and making creations of many kinds for family and friends. Perhaps she was most proud of the two scaled, multi-story dollhouses, complete with lights in every room, which she and her husband made for their first granddaughter, Janelle, and later another for Kati, Jodi and Jeni. There was nothing Shirley wouldn?t do for her darling grandchildren, who have grown up thinking the sun rose and set with her. ?Grandma?s house? was a favorite place that each child loved to visit for long or short stays. She was fortunate to live to see each of them grow-up to become caring and successful young men and women. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Joy Klakken, a sister, Florence Spidell, and two brothers, Eugene and Albert Klakken. In 1993, her husband of 45 years, Eugene Morton, passed away. She leaves many who love and miss her, including her two children Gerald ?Jerry? (Tanya) Morton and Joy Lynn (Del) Wirsch, grandchildren Janelle (Larry) Randock, Kati, Jodi and Jeni Morton, Brandon and Ryan Arnold, step-grandson Roman Sinyagovskiy, great-grandchildren Mikayala and Madison Randock, two brothers Delano and Dean Klakken, a dearly beloved cousin and best friend, Phyllis Lowther, neighbors Steve and Teri Pratt, who were her ?guardian angels? at all times, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends whom she loved and cherished. Shirley will be greatly missed and thought of many times, now and through the years, as she begins and continues her journey with God. A time of visitation will be held at Heritage Funeral Home on Thursday, December 16, from noon until 5 pm and again on Friday, December 17, from 8 am to 5 pm. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 18, at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution in Shirley?s name to the Morning Star Boys Ranch.