Mildred Stikeleather Morton

Mildred Stikeleather Morton, age 86, passed away on Sunday, March 4, 2012 at Carolina’s Medical Center Northeast. Formerly of Concord, Mrs. Morton had been a resident at Transitional Health Services in Kannapolis since November of 2010.

Born in Iredell County on July 30, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Lee S. and Anna Benfield Stikeleather. She was preceded in death by two husbands, Rudolph Salo, and David Morton. Mrs. Morton is survived by a brother Clyde Stikeleather of Mooresville, sister Louise Crotts of Melbourne, Florida, and a close niece, Anna Rufty Petrie, of Fort Mill, SC, who was her main caregiver in later years. She is also survived by two step daughters, Pat Kellams and Mary Alice Morton, both of Charlotte, as well as a number of other nieces and nephews.

Before moving to the Kannapolis and Concord areas following her retirement, Mildred was a long-time resident of Charlotte where she spent her career in the restaurant business. In addition to being an avid reader in earlier days, she enjoyed working in her flower gardens and was active in various garden clubs.

A graveside service will be held at Knox Chapel United Methodist Church in the Amity Hill community of Cleveland, NC at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 8, 2012. Rev. Dan Meyer is officiating and burial will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Knox Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o D. McCoy, 999 Triplett Road, Cleveland, NC 27013-8713. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com. Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home of Statesville, NC is handling the arrangements for Mrs. Morton.