Caneadea — Howard Eugene “Gene” Morton of 8968 Route 19 passed away on Thursday, June 29, 2023 in the Hart Comfort House, Wellsville with his family by his side. He was born on March 29, 1939 in the family home in Wellsville, a son of the late Howard and Miriam Foster Morton. On August 10, 1957 he married Jacqueline Rock who predeceased him on November 11, 2016.
As a young boy Gene went to school in a one room school house in Fulmer Valley and later attended Belfast Central School where he was active in sports and the FFA.
Gene was a hardworking man, he lived with the mindset that you work from sunup until sundown. Throughout his life he held down many jobs, starting as a farm machinery mechanic, a dairy farmer for many years and eventually a self-employed farm machinery mechanic servicing farmers locally and beyond. He also opened a farmer’s market at his home where he grew acres of sweet corn, of which he was very proud. He loved knowing that people from near and far looked forward to another season of Morton’s Sweet Corn, 41 seasons to be exact.
He enjoyed working on John Deere 2 cylinder tractors and going to tractor shows with his like-minded 2 cylinder loving friends.
Gene was a jokester and thoroughly enjoyed making people laugh. He could make a stranger feel like a friend easily and he was genuinely interested in hearing what others shared about themselves.
Surviving are his children, Melissa (Greg) Cole of Caneadea, Brian (Jodie) Morton of Belfast, Pam (Harold) Weaver of Belfast, Stephanie (Jeff) Burgess of Belfast, a son-in-law, Mark Pasternak of Franklinville, ten grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife and parents he was predeceased by a daughter, Veronica Pasternak, a grandson, Kory Marks, a sister, Evelyn Reynolds and a sister-in-law, Sandy Morton.
A private funeral service will be held in the Belfast Free Methodist Church per Gene’s request. Pastor Bob Mackmer will officiate. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Belfast.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Kopler-Williams Funeral Home, 21 N Genesee Street, Fillmore.
Memorials if desired to: Hart Comfort House, 141 E. State Street, Wellsville, NY 14895.
Online condolences may be made at: www.koplerwilliamsfuneralhome.com
