David Morton

July 12, 1937 – November 23, 2023

Dear OE/ICA Global Colleagues,

It is with deep sadness, and permission from the family, that I share the news that our dear colleague and longtime personal friend of the the Crocker family, David Morton, passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2023.  David contracted a rapidly progressing form of pneumonia.

David and his first wife, Betsy (deceased 1989), were members of the EI/OE community from 1967 – 1978, serving in assignments in various places in the US and Australia.  David, a committed researcher, teacher and voracious reader, significantly expanded our Order’s outreach to understand the “new quantum sciences” and their intersection with theology in the years he was a Prior of our Research Centrum in Chicago.  He also served on the Global Panchayat, and was one of the major writers/editors of The Order Polity Document, at the request of our founder and Dean, Joseph Mathews, (just before Joe’s death in 1977), to “pull together the fundamental operating principles and foundational understandings of our experimental family religious order.” 

My husband Joe and I were blessed to have been assigned to work with the Morton family both in Chicago, and in Sydney, Australia — and continued our friendship after 1988 when the OE was called out of being, and many of us continued to live out our commitment to serve those in need in many different ways.  Joe officiated at the lovely marriage of David and his wife, Denney, in 1991 and we have continued to be close friends, especially as it became more possible when Joe and I moved to Maine in 1999.

David and Betsy’s children, Kim Morton Case and Luke Morton, and Denney’s three daughters from a previous marriage, Kate, Julie and Susan all are gathering around to support their blended family in this time of loss.

I’m sure messages of condolence to David’s wife and family will be deeply appreciated: Mrs. David Morton, Apt. 2A. 18 Blueberry Lane, Falmouth, ME 04105. Cell: 207-400-9955. Email: denneymorton@gmail.com; or  Kim Morton Case, E mail: casebkim@gmail.com

With abundant gratitude for David’s life and his gifts to us all, I offer this — and will send additional information as the family requests. Grace and peace,

          ~~  Marilyn Crocker

Dear Marilyn and Colleagues, It is very sad to hear of David’s death. Sorry if my memory is vague Marilyn- can you clarify if Kim and Luke were with their parents in the Sydney House? I think they were. There was so much happening then I have forgotten … thank you. I very much enjoyed knowing both David and Betsey in the Sydney House in Paddington. David was wise and very thoughtful and was always present to any given circumstance,  be it well ordered and academic or quite chaotic- he was excellent on child care and the charting methodology. Peace be in our hearts.

           ~~  Isobel Bishop

I had already commented on a FB post about David’s death that his relatives posted. I mentioned how brilliant he was. I would now add that his great smile touched me.

                  ~~  Robertson Work

From September 1966-June 1967 David and Betsy Morton, along with Judy and Bob Fishel, were the Institute staff assigned to the Urban Student House (College House). I am grateful for their leadership that have influenced my decisions to be related to the ICA since. Peace and love,

          ~~  Karen Snyder Troxel