Sallie Morton

1925 - 2017

Sallie Morton
Nov. 8, 1925 - Oct. 24, 2017
Resident of Los Gatos
Sallie Morton passed away in the morning on October 24th, 2017.
After being diagnosed with Mesothelioma in June 2013, and put under Hospice care, her apparent will to live overrode the prognosis.
Sallie was born November 8, 1925 in Reno, Nevada to Meredith Raines Miller, research chemist, and Sadie Phillips Miller, RN. Following Reno High School, she graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in accounting. In San Francisco she worked for Skinner & Hammond, CPA s. Returning to Reno, she applied at the only CPA firm to be told, "If you were a man I'd hire you immediately." That was 1947!
In September 1949, she married MacDonald G. Morton from Riverside, CA and moved to San Jose where he was a senior in the watchmaking program at San Jose State. Four years later, while working as an accountant for Sal Sanfillipo, the couple opened a watch repair shop inside Bettencourt's Market at the corner of Bascom and San Carlos Streets. In1955, they moved to Cambrian Park Plaza and Sallie added gemology to her accounting skills. From 1964 to 1988, Morton Jewelers was located in Town & Country Village. When it was torn down to build Santana Row several years later, asbestos-causing mesothelioma was evident in the roof. In 1988, Sallie moved the store to Los Gatos selling it six years later to retire.
During her career as Certified Gemologist, an American Gem Society title, Sallie gave hundreds of talks to groups, visited all 50 states and often served as spokesman for the AGS on radio and TV. "Gem and Study" travels included the diamond mines in South Africa, colored gemstones in Sri Lanka, Burma and Brazil, pearls in China and Japan and opals and sapphires in Australia. In Iran she saw the fabulous Crown Jewels.
From 1977 -79, Sallie had the distinction of becoming the first woman president of any national jewelry association, The A.G.S. Several years later she received the prestigious Shipley Award and following that chaired their fund for a new building. In 2014, she was again honored with the Society inaugurating an annual "Sallie Morton Award" for exceptional involvement with AGS chapters.
In 1987, she was one of the first dozen women to become a member of the Rotary Club of San Jose. She maintained an active membership for 18 years and often shared tales of travel in her 28-foot Bounder motor home, towing a car. Trips included in the 84,000 miles were Alaska and Cabo San Lucas. She formed a Bounder United Singles chapter and was active in various other motor home organizations.
As a survivor of uterine cancer-causing lymphedema, she was an active advocate for the National Lymphedema Society and spent many hours volunteering. She had been an active Los Gatos Toastmistress before Toastmasters accepted women, then a San Jose Toastmaster, a board member of Santa Clara Girl Scout Council, and an active resident of the Resident Council at the Terraces of Los Gatos where she has lived since July 2010.
Sallie may be most remembered for her affiliation with Good Samaritan Hospital's, h2u Trips and Tours Travel Program. For years she was involved as an escort, chair of the program and as president of h2u. As co-founder in 2005 and past Queen of the EverREDdy Trippers Red Hat Society, she enjoyed her monthly outings with a close group of friends.
To many Terrace's residents, Dixieland music and Sallie are synonymous. Concerts of the South Bay Traditional Jazz Society with its Top of the Hill Jazz Band were a popular event. As past treasurer of the Society, she was an avid attendee at their monthly sessions. Her happiest hours were spent listening to Trad Jazz at various venues, usually in her Bounder, and on Jazz Sea cruises.
Surviving are her devoted son, Flip (Philip) and wife Debbie, granddaughters Melissa and Candace, and great granddaughters Cassidy and Ava.
A memorial service will be held at The Terraces of Los Gatos at 2pm-4pm on November 4th. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Compassion & Choices, PO Box 485, Etna, NH 03750 or to your favorite charity.


View the online memorial for Sallie Morton