LOUIS JOHN (JACK) MORTON

On March 16, 2015, Louis John (Jack) Morton, 85, departed from his home Neptune Beach, FL; to accept a permanent position as God's Handyman
Jack was born in Detroit, Michigan on April 21, 1930, to the late Louis H. and Ruby G. Morton. Jack graduated from McKenzie High in Detroit and later attended Letourneau University in Texas, then earned a BA in Business Administration from Wayne State University in Detroit.
On September 17, 1949, a young and handsome Jack married the raven-haired beauty Mae Sandieson Strange, and commenced a loving and fruitful partnership that endured over 67 years.
Jack and Mae raised their family of five sons in the Detroit area, where Jack worked in the machine repair business as the President of Superior Welding and Press Repair of Center Line, MI.
In 1984 they moved to the Jacksonville Beaches. For the next 25 years Jack embraced his nickname as “Jack of all Trades” as Chief Maintenance Officer and VP of PR at Ragtime Tavern in Atlantic Beach and A1A Aleworks in St Augustine. Along the way he also performed a few weddings, delivered a few boats, and always offered a helping hand to family, friends, co-workers and strangers alike.  
Jack was a tireless worker, a lover of tools, and a voracious reader. His other interests were also wide ranging. Jack was a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast, football and hockey fan, accomplished woodworker, barbershop singer, and pianist.  He was an avid boater and USCG captain, and instilled a love of the water in his family as they spent summer vacations cruising the Great Lakes. As the family spread out he exchanged the boating life for a family retreat on Drummond Island MI. The Drummond Cottage was his beloved place of respite as well as his living gift to his entire extended family.  
Jack is survived by his wife Mae, his sons John (Paula) of Okemos, MI;  Bill and Tom (Laurie) of St Augustine, FL, and Bob (Liz) and Scott (Susan) of Royal Oak, MI. With tears in our eyes and a tool in our hands we bid a sad farewell to “the O.M.”
He was known as “Papa” to his Grandchildren: John (Beth), Tim, Zander, Isla Cay, Madison, Carson, Gordie, Marlon, Josh, Savannah, Emmie, Skyler, Orion, Gabby, Georgia, and Grace; and his Great Grandchildren: Isabel, Ayden, Gavin, and Jackson. He will be terribly missed by all of them.  
Jack is also survived by his brothers and sister: Don, of Grosse Isle, MI , Shirley (Ross) Case of South Lyon, MI, and Ken (Kathy), of Troy, MI. Jack was the guiding force for his family after the untimely death of their own father at an early age.  
There will be a celebration of Jack's life and memory on Saturday, April 2, at 2pm at the Ribault Garden Club, 705 2nd Ave. N., Jacksonville Beach, FL
Jack's family gratefully requests donations in his memory to the Ruel Foundation Children's Charity. The children at this orphanage became dear to Jack's heart through the pictures and stories shared by his granddaughter who volunteers there. May we celebrate Jack by touching children's lives through donations in his memory. http://www.ruelfoundation.com/donations