CRAIG MORTON

Craig P. Morton

Craig P. Morton, age 53, of Newark, DE, passed away on Saturday, July 9, 2005.

A celebrant of the gift of life, Craig was an exceptional father, husband, employer and friend. He savored the joy of living, whether watching his children play sports or setting up his infamous practical jokes, which resulted in his many friends learning caution when opening their mail on April 1st.

Born October 2, 1951 to the late Philip K. Morton and Barbara MacAbee Morton, Craig is survived by his wife of 17 years, Melanie White Morton; his children, Katherine and William (who have promised to continue their father's April 1st tradition), both at home; his brothers, William Morton, Newton, MA, and Jeffrey Morton, Newark, DE; and his stepmother, Carolyn B. Morton, Newark, DE. He was predeceased by his first wife, Susan C. Morton.

A 1969 graduate of Newark High School, he also received degrees from Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, OH, and Ohio State University Law School. He was a member of the Maryland and Delaware State Bar Associations, the Maryland Association of CPAs, and Omicron Delta Kappa. He was active in First Presbyterian Church, Newark, and was an avid volleyball coach and player throughout Cecil and New Castle counties.

Exceptional not only as an individual, Craig was also exceptional during his illness. The average survival time for pancreatic cancer is measured in months. Craig survived over 2 years. The American Cancer Society predicts that in 2005, about 32,180 people in the U.S. will be found to have pancreatic cancer and about 31,800 will die of the disease. It is the fourth leading cause of cancer death. Only about 1-out-of-4 patients with pancreatic cancer live at least 1 year after the cancer is found. Even with this prognosis, Craig wanted to help others. He was a participant in 3 clinical trials, with the knowledge that it would be future cancer patients that would benefit from his efforts.

Craig's family would like to thank all of his friends for the grace and support they have provided over the last 2 years. And we hope that you, as we have in the last 2 years, will find time in your lives to grow closer to your family, laugh with your friends more often, be more aware of the increasing maturity of your children, and come to appreciate the wonder of the love and caring of the people around you.

A celebration of Craig's life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 292 W. Main St., Newark, DE, at 11 am, Saturday, July 16, 2005. His family hopes that many of his friends will be able to attend this attestation to the joy of living and the gift of knowing Craig. Private interment will be in Gilpin Manor Memorial Park, Elkton, MD.

Craig had expressed a wish that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Morton Educational Trust Fund for his son, William Morton. Donations may be sent to HICKS HOME FOR FUNERALS, 103 W. Stockton St., Elkton, MD 21921.