1919 – 2015

RANGELEY — Hazen W. “Ben” Morton, 95, of Rangeley, passed away after a short period of declining health on Saturday morning, March 7, at his home, with family by his side.

He was born in Rangeley on Dec. 5, 1919, a son of Ralph and Annie (Stewart) Morton. He graduated from Rangeley High School in 1937, worked on the Melville Nile Dairy Farm through high school, and after graduation, went to work in the woods loading pulp trucks by hand at night.

Prior to joining the U.S. Army in January 1942, he started a market in Oquossoc. He was an anti-aircraft gunner, making the Sicily, Anzio and Southern France beachhead landings. He received seven battle stars for service in Sicily, Naples, Foggia, Rome, Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, central Europe and Germany.

At the completion of his service in World War II in October 1945, Ben returned home to Rangeley and resumed Morton’s Market during the summer months and joined his brother, Donald C. “Bart” Morton, at Morton Brothers Logging.

He married Norma “Jo” Huntoon on Oct. 26, 1947, and they ran the market, had a few rental cottages on Rangeley Lake and Ben continued working in the woods with his brother, Bart. In 1953, they sold these businesses and built Town and Lake Motel, growing and operating it until their youngest son, Joey, purchased it in September 1984.

Ben also owned and operated Morton Insurance Agency for several years, until his oldest son, Scott, purchased this agency as well as Furbish Insurance Agency, to form Morton & Furbish Insurance and Real Estate Agency.

He was a longstanding member of the Rotary Club and the Masonic lodge in Rangeley, and a former member of the Franklin Savings Bank board of directors in Farmington. He was involved in the development of Saddleback Mountain with other Rangeley businessmen.

Ben spent many, many happy years with Jo, wintering at Key Colony Beach in the Florida Keys, where he enjoyed deep-sea fishing with his good friends, Larry Ryden and Marv Wheeler, golfed every morning, thoroughly enjoyed the company of their numerous friends at their nightly “Round Table,” and looked forward to the spring break visits from their nine grandchildren.

Through fall 2012, Ben was actively involved with various responsibilities at Morton and Furbish Vacation Rentals, owned by his granddaughter, Beth.

Ben was an entrepreneur who started several businesses in Rangeley which his family continues to operate today. He was an avid reader and photographer, enjoyed following the stock market and loved fishing in the Florida Keys. He so enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ben is survived by two sons, Scott Morton and his wife, Nancy, of Rangeley and Joey Morton and his wife, Sheryl, of Rangeley; a daughter, Judith Morton and her husband, Harold Schaetzle, of Rangeley; nine grandchildren, Beth Eastlack and husband, Jamie, of Rangeley, Kelley Stokes and husband, Brad, of Rangeley, Allison Roeder and husband, Chris, of Exeter, N.H., Ashley Morton of Orono, Ben Morton of South Portland, Alex Morton of Rangeley, Paige Wilcox and husband, Mike, of Bangor, Abby Madeira of South Portland and Kent Madeira of Boston, Mass.; seven great-grandchildren, Lauren and Emily Eastlack, Amelia and Natalie Stokes, Colin and Emma Roeder and Hazen Wilcox; a brother-in-law, Erlon Rand; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife, Jo, in 2007; his son, Kent, in 1971; two brothers, Darrold and Donald; and a sister, Janice Rand.

Condolences may be sent for the family at www.adamsmcfarlane.com.