NEWRY – Helen Anna Morton, well-known local artist of Newry, died on Tuesday, April 21, at her residence of natural causes.

She was born Oct. 5, 1913, in Auburn, daughter of Freeman Henry Shackley Richardson and Atha Golderman (Andrews) Richardson. She graduated from Edward Little High School in 1931, and Farmington State Normal School in 1933.

She taught school six years in Auburn, prior to her marriage in 1939 to Herbert H. Morton Jr. of Newry, where she has lived since her marriage. She taught school in the Newry and Bethel schools, until her retirement in 1970.

After the death of her husband in 1964, she pursued a lifelong desire to paint. She began studying with Prof. Lajos Matolcsy at the Matolcsy Arts Center in Norway and devoted the rest of her life to her art.

She is well-known in the New England area and worked in oil, watercolor, pencil, pen and ink, crayon, pastels and scratchboard. She exhibited for many years at local galleries and was present at art shows all over Maine each summer. She was a founding member of the Western Maine Art Group. Her work is proudly displayed in many homes in New England. She was happiest when she was sitting outside painting and was seen in all seasons with her easel set up capturing the beauty of the state she loved.

She was an active member of the West Parish Congregational Church and the Bethel Historical Society and was a member of Purity Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star and was a past district deputy grand matron.

She was able to remain in her home at Newry because of the assistance given by her caregivers and neighbors, Brad and Brenda Wight, Brenda Bartholomew, Mabel Buiniskas, Fay Taylor and Kathy Tibbetts.

She is survived by two children, Herbert H. Morton III of Andover, Mass., and Marjorie Greer and husband, John, of Cascade, Mont.; three grandchildren, Heidi Galindez and husband, Jose, of Hillsboro, Ore., John R. Greer and wife, Jennifer, of Alberton, Mont., and Gretchen and husband, Karl Frederick, of Montana, currently stationed in Montgomery, Ala.; four great-grandchildren, Collin and Payton Frederick and Nate and Zach Gong; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents; her brother, Stanley; her husband; and two half brothers.