Mary Margaret Morton

Mary Margaret Morton, 92, died Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014, in Fayetteville. She was born April 18, 1921, in Liberal, Mo., to Margaret Brown Bowen and George L. Bowen. Her family moved to Fayetteville when she was a child and she never considered leaving. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, William C. Morton Jr.; and a brother, Thomas W. Bowen. She is survived by three sons, George Bowen Morton and his wife, Amy, Michael William Morton, and Robert Claiborne Morton and his wife, Cindy; one brother, George R. Bowen and his wife, Alice; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and four nieces and nephews. Mary graduated from Fayetteville High School and the University of Arkansas, where she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. After college, she taught high school history in Nowata, Okla., and Pine Bluff, Ark. She was a lifelong student, taking courses in many disciplines at the University of Arkansas year after year. She enjoyed supporting the University of Arkansas and the arts in Fayetteville, frequently hosting receptions and other special events at her home near the university. She loved sports, the University, Fayetteville, international travel and her many friends. She was an irrepressible hog fan. As her boys grew up, she was a perennial homeroom mother, PTA president and Cub Scout Den Mother. The family home was the central playground for neighborhood children, where doors were always open and the chocolate chip cookies never ran out. She loved making life better and more beautiful for the Fayetteville community. Among her many organizations and interests were P.E.O., Foreign Student Association, Big Brothers and Sisters, Symphony of North Arkansas, Walton Arts Center, Washington Regional Medical Center, Hospice, the Summer Music Festival (co-founder of the "Hog Eye Quartet") and she served on the University of Arkansas Development Council. She was an active member of First United Presbyterian Church, where she was often involved in children's programs. Her family is deeply grateful for the loving care and support that she received in the final years of her life from the entire staff of North Hills Life-Care. A service in celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, at First United Presbyterian Church, 695 Calvin St., in Fayetteville. Memorials may be made to the Bowen Music Scholarship, University of Arkansas, 1002 W. Maple St., Fayetteville, AR 72701. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Moore's Chapel. To sign the online guest book, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.