Raymond J. Morton

Ray was born on a small farm near Kenosha, Wisconsin on July 31, 1931 to Raymond and Mary (Ksinan) Morton. He was the oldest of five children; two brothers, Donald and David, and two sisters, Audrey and Mary Ellen.

Ray attended Kenosha Bradford high school and graduated in 1949. He then began college at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin and received a B.B.A. degree in accounting and finance in 1953.

After graduation, Ray began his two year military obligation in the Paris, France region as a staff officer for the Provost Marshall in the European sector. Upon completion in 1956, he returned to Madison, Wisconsin to pursue his accounting career. During that year, he proposed to his college sweetheart, Letty Ruggles, and they were married on September 22, 1956.

After receiving his CPA license in the early 1960s, Ray started his own accounting firm in Madison, Wisconsin, which then grew over the years to become Morton, Nehls and Tierney, SC. He was the firm's managing partner until 1987 when he and Letty moved to Tampa, Florida to be near their grandchildren.

Ray always enjoyed and participated in all sorts of sports activities and was an avid golfer. He had a strong Christian faith, was active in his church and taught Sunday school for many years.

Ray was a caring, loving and supportive father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He cherished spending time with his family and managed both his son and grandson‘s little league teams in Madison and Tampa. He always made time for those he loved and it showed in the strong relationships he built with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Donald.

Ray is survived by his wife, Letty, of 67 years; his children, Mary Seitz of Tampa, FL, Kathy Elam of Salem, SC and John Morton of Sarasota, FL; his siblings, Audrey Hains of Hoover, AL, Mary Ellen Guenther of Ypsilanti, MI and Reverend David Morton of Wauwatosa, WI; his grandchildren, Chase (and Michelle) Seitz of Frisco, TX, Dr. Scot (and Pierce) Seitz of Atlanta, GA, Johnson (and Aoife) Seitz of Wesley Chapel, FL, Mackenzie Elam of Jacksonville, FL, Connor Morton of Goodyear, AZ, Kyle Morton of Goodyear, AZ and Alyssa, Morton of Bellingham, WA; his great-grandchildren, Noah and Ava Seitz of Frisco, TX, Ronan and Rory Seitz of Wesley Chapel, FL; his step great-grandchild, Adelee Buntin of Wesley Chapel, FL and many friends and relatives.

Ray requested that there be no funeral services. He will have a military service at Sarasota National Cemetery sometime this summer with family in attendance. Please celebrate Ray’s life by donating to your chosen charity/organization in remembrance of him.