Ruby Morton

1927 - 2017

Ruby Margaret Norton Morton

1927 - 2017

Gulfport, MS

Ruby Margaret Norton Morton, age 90, of Gulfport, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017.

She was born January 12, 1927, in Hattiesburg, Miss., the seventh of nine children born to Helen Augusta Franke Norton and William J. Norton. She attended Gulfport High School before marrying Holly Morton. After being blinded in a gun accident at the age of 22, Ruby dedicated herself to raising the four children she had at that time and to the four others born after the accident. A parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, she was the proud mother of eight children, grandmother of 20, and great-grandmother of 25, with another to be born in May.

Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Bill, Hugh, Frank and Howard Norton; and her sisters Edith Richardson, Kathleen Norton, Dorothy Ross and Lyllah Beatrice (Bea) Miller.

She is survived by her children Shirley (Dick) Henderson, Biloxi; H.L. "Bubba" (Ree) Morton, Baton Rouge, LA; Frank (Ginny) Morton, Pearl River, LA; Connie (Joe) Ziegler, Gulfport; David (Susan) Morton, Baton Rouge, LA; Mary Ann (Craig) Bounds, Ocean Springs; Patrick (Tammy) Morton, LaPlace, LA; and Paula (Billy) Hewes, Gulfport; and their father, Holly Morton, Biloxi; her grandchildren Charlotte Henderson Marcotte, Stephanie Henderson Ritter, Kelly Henderson Englese, Susanne Henderson Chandler, Jon Henderson, Frank Morton, Teri Morton Foster, Tim Morton, Joey Ziegler, Scott Ziegler, Karen Ziegler Smith, Sarah Bounds Robichaux, Conley Bounds; Matthew, Michael and Maggie Morton, Katie Hewes Hood, and Sarah, Gardner and Sam Hewes; and her great grandchildren, plus numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Ruby was instrumental in helping establish the Cheshire Home in Gulfport for mentally challenged adults and worked with the City of Gulfport and Harrison County authorities to bring Royal Maid Industries for the blind to the Gulf Coast. She was involved in her parish community and in the South Mississippi Cursillo Movement, and was named Blind Employee of the Year for the state of Mississippi in 1986. She was a graduate of the Diocese of Biloxi's inaugural New Wine class. In 2000, she was selected as one of the Olympic Torch bearers as it traveled through Mississippi.

She worked as the receptionist at the main offices of Gulfport's Goodwill Store and was supervisor of personnel in the collection centers for Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi. In 2002, Goodwill Industries International honored her with its Achiever of the Year Award. As part of her acceptance of this award, Ruby met with President George Bush in the Oval Office. In 2015, she was also named Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi's Ambassador of the Year following her retirement.

The family is grateful to Kare In Home Health Services and to the sitters, nurses and hospice caregivers.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. John Catholic Church, 2412 17th Street, Gulfport, MS 39501.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Tuesday, December 19, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Gulfport, where friends may visit from noon until the Rosary at 1:30 p.m.. Burial will follow at Gulf Pines Memorial Gardens in Long Beach.

An online obituary may be viewed and memories shared at www.riemannfamily.com.