Harry O. "Ollie" Gorton

1927 - 2016

SOUTHAMPTON – Harry O. Gorton, more affectionately known to the people of Southampton as "Ollie," and to former children of the elementary schools as "Mr. Green Jeans" and "Bigfoot," passed away at his home on Tuesday, June 14.
Ollie was born in Northampton in 1927 to Leah A. and Harry E. Gorton. He grew up on the Gorton Family Homestead. He met his wife Lucille Gamble at a local square dance and they married in 1950.
Ollie loved living on the family farm so much that he and Lucille built their home on an adjacent piece of land and raised their family there. Ollie was known for his love of horses, raising his own and using them to lumber the wood that he built his own home with. Together he and Lucille raised farm animals and helped to work the family farm.
Ollie began working for the Southampton schools in 1953 as a custodian and joined the Fire Department in 1954. He and his wife were a part of the "red phone service" that dispatched Southampton's volunteer Fire Department. He proudly served the town as fire chief and warden from 1964 to 1975.
Ollie loved the town of Southampton and chose to remain on the farm when he retired from the school in 1988, raising Christmas trees, peaches and a variety of vegetables.
He leaves behind his daughter Linda and her husband David Plaza of Kansas; his daughter Pam and her husband Kevin LeDuc of Maine; three grandchildren: Kyle, Chelsea and Ariel; and one great granddaughter, Leah, to whom he was affectionately known as "Bumpa Boo Boo." He also leaves behind several nieces and nephews for whom he cared and thought fondly of. His brother George Gorton and sister Frances Dzialo predeceased him.
The family wishes to extend their sincerest thanks and gratitude to Ollie's neighbors and Dr. Mark Bigda for their friendship and care in the last few years. In lieu of flowers, they request donations be made to Mustard Seeds Missions for Haiti, a charity of Dr. Bigda's. Donations can be sent to c/o Dr. Bigda, 11 Truehart Drive, Easthampton, MA 01027.
A memorial service is planned on August 27. Further details will be shared at a later date.
To sign a Guest Book, express condolences, share memories and read other obituaries, go to www.gazettenet.com/obituaries.