Lawrence Morton

CUYAHOGA FALLS - Lawrence Victor Morton, 84, passed away January 1, 2018. He was born in 1933 in the rolling hills, trees and lakes in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. A proud Finn of first-generation mother, and emigrant father, Celia Kaitila and Lauri Morton. Graduated Crystal Falls High School in 1951 and enlisted in the US Navy assigned to the Seabees, he attended school, then spent two years in the Pacific during the Korean War. He helped build the Cubi Point Naval Station in the Philippines.

After the Navy, he enrolled in Northern Michigan College, attended the University of Michigan, and ultimately graduated from Michigan State University in 1959. He met a coed at MSU, and Sophia and he were married on June 21, 1957. Before he graduated, they were blessed with twins, Anne and Thomas.

His first Job was with home builder Bob Schmitt in Berea, OH, then worked with Howard Bell building a dream home in the country. Later he found a job with Patio Enclosures from which he retired in 1992.

He and Sophia retired to the home they loved so well on 10 acres in western Medina County. They have been playing ever since. They grew their own food one year, they had an orchard, a large vegetable garden, grapes, many berry bushes and a green house. They made maple syrup from their own trees, and Larry made firewood from their five acres of forest with which they heated their home.

They proceded to travel extensively in the US, and attended some fifteen Elderhostels. They visited 41 state capitols. Larry took many photos and slides of their travels, they are all collected in albums.

In 2007, after 50 years of marriage, they downsized from their dream home in the country to a condo in Cuyahoga Falls. They have been active in the community, with neighbors and various hiking groups. His final paddle was in the Adirondacks, in October 2017.

He is survived by his wife, Sophia (nee Starche); children, Anne (David) Silvaggio, Thomas (Shoko), Morton and Richard (Liz) Morton; grandchildren, Cara (Adam) Burden, Nikki (Chris) Gibson, Mark (Elisabeth) Silvaggio, Phillip Silvaggio, Lisa Silvaggio, Harold Morton and Saaya Morton; three great-grandsons, Anthony, Blaise and Grayson; sister Vivian (Albert) Foster, brother David (Alicia) Morton, sister Kathryn (John) Marconi, many nieces and nephews.

Memorial calling will be held from 1-4 PM on Sunday January 7, 2018 in the Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home 1930 Front St. Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221. Memorial calling will also be held 1 hour prior to an 11 AM Memorial Service on Monday January 8 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 50 N Prospect St. Akron, OH 44304. In lieu of other remembrances memorials may be made to Cuyahoga Valley National Park Conservancy. Services entrusted to Clifford-Shoemaker Funeal Home and Crematory, 330-928-2147.