Gail "GJ" Jerome Morter

Gail is survived by many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife; Violet, his son; Mark, and his siblings; Richard, Robert, Angelus (Bud), Ruth Morter Hill, Mary Morter Pleasant, and William.

Born on August 16, 1933 in Dayton, Ohio, Gail graduated from Wilbur Wright High School in 1951 and later attended the University of Tampa. He married the love of his life, Violet in 1955 and the couple welcomed their only child, Mark, in 1961. Gail proudly served in the United States Air Force before beginning a long and accomplished career with TECO Energy, where he worked from 1956 until his retirement in 1999. As Superintendent of Operations, he earned numerous awards and the respect of colleagues throughout the company.

A lifelong fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, he also cheered on the Tampa Bay Rays, Buccaneers, and the Florida Gators. Gail had a love of travel and fondly recalled exploring 48 states with Violet and Mark – with plenty of casino stops along the way. He was always up for a road trip, a chat, or a good ball game.

Those who knew him will remember his easygoing nature, beautiful smile, kind spirit, and warm sense of humor. He had a gift for bringing people together, making all feel welcome, and bringing joy and positivity to those around him. He was a wonderful friend and neighbor to many, and a beloved bonus great-grandfather to his tiny next door neighbors; Melina and Charlie.

Visitation will be from 9:30-10:30am, with the Funeral Service to follow at 10:30am on July 24th, 2025 at Blount and Curry Funeral Home. Interment will be at Garden of Memories Cemetery. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Gail’s life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html.