Morten Hopkins

Morten Hopkins, 84, born in Dallas, Texas on November 27, 1939, went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 30, 2024. He passed peacefully with his wife Jane Reynolds Hopkins and family at his side. He was the youngest son of Pauline (Richardson) and Robert Howell Hopkins Sr., and graduated from Highland Park HS in 1957 as well as Texas Tech University in 1962 (BBA, Finance and Phi Delta Theta). He served honorably in the Coast Guard in 1957 and as a reservist until 1965. Morten had a long career locally as a business owner in mortgage banking, and later teamed with Jane at Ebby Halliday Realtors.

Morten is survived by wife Jane, sister Nancy Hopkins Reily, daughter Laurie Hopkins Dunlap (and husband Carl), son John Edward Hopkins, step-daughter Margie Fussell Garrigues (and husband Bryan), plus nine beautiful grandchildren: Sophia Hopkins, Hannah Dunlap, Carlton Dunlap, Mark Dunlap, Margo Garrigues, Katherine Guerra (and husband Avniel, Ashley Bryer (and husband Joshua), Madison Leavitt, and Dane Leavitt (and wife Rachel). And many relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents Hal and Pauline, step-father Archie Castleberry, brother Robert Howell Hopkins Jr., Morten’s first wife Lucy Fox Hopkins, son David Morten Hopkins, and step-daughter Martha Fussell Leavitt.

A memorial service and reception will be held Monday, February 5, 2024, 2pm at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, 3821 University Blvd, Dallas, 75205.

Gifts to support HPPC’s missions program would be wonderful:

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5. Jane Hopkins

6. 3215 Drexel Drive, Dallas, TX 75205

Morten’s Life

Morten lived life “to the full”, and has so many amazing, funny, tragic, heartbreaking, adventurous stories. Foremost, Dad loved Christ and was comforted by his eternal reunion with God, his parents, brother Robert, son David, relatives, friends, and loved ones. An active father, he raised his three children to be sporty, honest, educated, loving, and with Christian values. He leaned into his faith in his darkest times as well as in celebration. His nine grandchildren all adored him as Poppy; and with Jane, they constantly hosted gatherings at the longtime family home in Highland Park. He loved his countless friends from childhood, high school, college, business, church, and family.

As a child in the ‘40’s, Morten was a good boy with a mischievous, athletic streak. He served briefly as a ball boy for the 1948 St. Louis Cardinals, led by Enos Slaughter and Stan Musial. Tragically, his father Hal passed away when Morten was a pre-teen, and his mother Pauline carried on raising Morten, Nancy, and Robert. As a young teenager, Morten worked a few summers on his Aunt Helen & Uncle Winfield Morten’s Rancho de Abiquiu in New Mexico. He worked in the fields raising and harvesting alfalfa and managing farmhand payroll. This gave him some business acumen while his uncle was convalescing in Santa Fe. Artist Georgia O’Keefe lived across the Chama River from the ranch, but did not drive. She used to call Morten to pick her up and take her to Rancho de Abiquiu, into town for groceries, or to her Ghost Ranch cabin. Eventually Pauline remarried Archie Castleberry, and Morten had a loving step-father for many more years.

In high school he pursued his love of football. “Hoppy” was a reserve offensive lineman on the HP Scots 1956 state semi-finalists squad that went 11-1. Graduating from HP in 1957, Morten served in the US Coast Guard before college, patrolling the Gulf of Mexico on rescue and storm operations. As a reservist in 1961 off the coast of Galveston, his ship sailed deep into the wall of, and into the eye of, Hurricane Carla, a Cat 5, nearly costing him his life. He endured head-deep flood waters to assist in victim rescues on shore. He was honorably discharged in 1965.

Morten was so fond of his college years at Texas Tech (1958-62), studying Business Finance and joining the Phi Delts. He met his loving first wife of 26 years, Lucy, at Tech and they married right after graduating in the summer of 1962. Morten and Lucy cherished these life-long friendships from Tech, enriching family, career, and social lives for decades. Morten delighted in his Tech adventures, for example how he got to know a few state troopers while transporting certain unique beverages across the New Mexico state line for Phi Delt events at Tech. Or the time he and a buddy were in Rome for the 1960 Summer Olympics, and he climbed the flagpole inside the Olympic Village one late night. And zipping across England in a ‘60 Austin Healy roadster.

Marriage brought kids, career launch, and responsibilities. Morten and Lucy’s early journeys included Hobbs and Carlsbad, NM, where Laurie and David were born, before returning to Dallas before John arrived in 1968. Morten was very hard working, often rising at 4am for his workdays in the title and mortgage businesses, and became a successful businessman. With his brother and close partners, he co-founded and operated both National Mortgage Corporation of America and Maple Mortgage Company over a 25 year period in Dallas. He loved coaching and mentoring his loan officers, managing, and building the business.

As a dad, he was always home for family dinners, coaching Laurie, David, and John’s various youth teams, supporting Lucy and Laurie’s horse passions, and hatching family road trips to South Padre, Monterey Bay, Disney World Florida, the Rockies; plus weekends at Highland Park, Tech, and Cowboy games, or at the Red Raider Ranch near Leonard, TX. He was an adult leader in the Dallas County Hillcrest 4-H Horse Club in the late 1970's that supported youth equine projects and local 4-H horse shows. He and his sons cheered on Laurie and Lucy at statewide horse shows and local Playdays. He had a blast coaching his son’s YMCA Youth teams with the dad’s in football, soccer, and basketball. He generously enabled his childrens’ physical, spiritual, and mental growth through various sports and summer camps. He was always a steady, calm, reliable voice. In a world with high expectations, he would say that if we just win at life 51% of the time, we’ll be a great success.

Morten experienced his difficult period in life as the mortgage banking industry collapsed in the late 80’s, his marriage ended when the nest emptied, and a serious life event triggered changes to every aspect of life. Yet he never showed panic or alarm, never complained or sought self-pity, always made time for his family and amazing friends, deepened his faith in Christ, and eventually guided himself back to a better place.

With the help of a timely blind date in 1992, he met his second wife and best friend for the next 30 years, Jane, and they began a truly beautiful journey. Bonding over their sufferings and pain, motivated by their faith and shared passions, supported by their community of family and friends, these two spent every moment together through the second half of life. They were a team at everything - work, blending families, grandparenting, dog parenting, home ownership, travel, family trips to the cabin, friends, health, fitness, and especially church and faith expression. They brought joy and energy to everyone around them.

Morten’s last years were spent with family, close friends, and church, mostly at home in Dallas and at the cabin in South Fork, CO, with an occasional trip to California to visit son John or to Houston to see son David. He loved day trips to Farmersville, TX to daughter Laurie and Carl’s’ “ranchito.” He adored his blended family, lots of quality time with Margie and Bryan, and nine grandkids coming and going frequently. Dementia onset limited his adventures, and together with Jane and their Aussie, Lizzie, they focused on faith and family. Through it all, Morten was the steady, calm voice, grateful to be surrounded by loved ones, and allowing God to do the rest. We love and miss him dearly, and celebrate his eternal love in Christ.