John Ward Morton

John Ward Morton, age 54, of Cumming passed away July 13, 2015 after bravely facing a multitude of serious complications following an ATV accident in 2012. His long battle to recover was finally rewarded when he was set free to enjoy the ultimate healing in Heaven. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)
Born Dec. 7, 1960 in Bristol, Tenn., he was the son of John Francis and Betty Morton. He is predeceased by his father, his paternal grandparents, Ward and Pauline Morton; and his maternal grandparents, G.L. and Marie Stophel.
Those left to cherish the memory of his wisdom, humor, kindness and love for family and friends are his wife and soul mate, Donna Gentry Morton of Cumming; sons, John Robert (J.R.) Morton of Knoxville, Tenn., Daniel Morton of Cumming; mother, Betty S. Morton of Cumming; sisters, Susan Morton Leonard and husband Mark of Cumming, Sarah Morton LaPlaca of Cumming and fiancé Jeff Simcox of Kingsport, Tenn.; and nieces and nephews, Christina LaPlaca and Corey Leonard of Cumming, and Beth Williams Smith and Zachary Canter of Fort Drum, N.Y.; John will also be missed by many aunts, uncles, cousin, in-laws, friends and his Black Lab, Sam Morton.
John had a very successful 26 year Career with AT&T where he became Senior Technical Director and earned the reputation as an exceptional problem solver and admired mentor. He was granted five U.S. patents in telecommunications development and was a key contributor when AT&T began assisting Apple with iPhone activations. The system developed to make the activations possible was officially named "John's Idea." He was a past member of CTIA, the International Association for the Wireless Telecommunications Industry, serving on working committees for industry standards, including the Cellular Fraud Task Force committee that established the ethics and criteria that were adopted by the American National Standards Institute.
He was a 1984 graduate of East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn., where he earned a B.S. Degree in Computer Science. He served as president of the Tennessee Gamma chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity which, under his leadership, won the Buchanan Outstanding Chapter Award that recognizes the highest achieving and best-of-the-best chapters in the nation. Prior to his accident in 2012, John had been working on his MBA through Mercer University's Atlanta campus.
He was a 1979 graduate of Tennessee High School in Bristol, Tenn., where he was recognized as a "Viking Stand Out" as a starting offensive and defensive tackle on the football team. He was a four year letterman on the wrestling team, advancing to the state championship in 1979. He also competed in discus and shot put on the track and field team.
John attended Browns Bridge Community Church, was a member of the North Georgia Mountain Riders and was an avid, possibly the world's biggest, fan of University of Tennessee football.
Services will be held Friday, July 17, at 4 p.m. in the chapel of McDonald and Son Funeral Home in Cumming. The family will receive friends from 2-4 pm. and there will be a reception following the service.
Another service will be held in John's hometown church, Central Christian in Bristol, Tenn., at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 19. He will be laid to rest in a family cemetery in Bluff City, Tenn.
The family thanks the many wonderful friends who have prayed, supported and cared for them during this long and difficult road since John's accident.
McDonald and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be expressed at www.mcdonaldandson.com.
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