Ronald Wayne “Ron” Morton

Ronald Wayne “Ron” Morton, a fourth-generation farmer/rancher, was born December 12, 1949, in Sulphur, Oklahoma, to the late Richard Lee “Dick” and Donna Lucille (Randall) Morton, Jr. He died Wednesday, February 22, 2023, in Ardmore, Oklahoma, at the age of 73 years, two months and ten days. Ron grew up in Hennepin, Oklahoma, where he completed elementary school, prior to attending junior high and high school at Woodland. Following his 1968 high school graduation from Woodland, Ron attended Murray State College, earning an Associate’s Degree in Animal Science.From Murray State, he continued his education at Oklahoma State University, majoring in Animal Science. Fresh out of OSU, Ron took a job with a large commercial hog operation in Arkansas City, Kansas. Due to his father’s health, he left Arkansas City and returned home to the family farm, after only two years. His returning home led him to operate and eventually own the family business, Morton Durocs. His involvement in the hog business allowed him to travel the country and ship hogs worldwide. In 2006, Ron retired from the hog business, and took a job with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, working an additional ten years, with his final retirement being in 2016.

Ron had some rather unique hobbies, with rattle snake hunting being one of them. He also enjoyed collecting, what he considered to be was valuable merchandise, while those closest to him argue that it was simply junk. Nonetheless, Ron continued to collect “items” of every nature, rarely ever getting rid of anything.

Ron was a lifelong member of the Hennepin Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. He was also an Honorary Member of the Davis FFA Chapter, as well as a retired, charter member of the Hennepin Volunteer Fire Department. Survivors include his son, Richie Morton and wife, Laura; his daughter, Kenna (Morton) Barnes and husband Brandon; his five grandchildren, Alexis, Kolton and Kensley Barnes, and Case and Mattie Morton, all of Hennepin; two sisters, Vicki Morton of Davis, Oklahoma and Lu Ann (Morton) Milligan and husband Jody, of Hennepin; two nephews, Zac Milligan and wife, Caitlin, and Ty Milligan; and two great-nieces and nephew. Graveside services were held February 27, 2023, at the Hennepin Cemetery, with Pastor Roger Sims officiating.

Serving as pallbearers were Jed Dudley, Terry Richardson, Kris Moore, Ronald Tillery, W. R. Howard, and Darin Chandler. Services were entrusted to Hales’s Funeral Home, Davis, Oklahoma. Online condolences may be offered at halesfuneralhomes. com.