Mary Gertrude Morton, age 92 of Kell, passed away on Thursday October 8, 2020 at SSM St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia. She was the oldest child of Reed and Elma (Parkinson) Morton, born on October 17, 1927 in the home of her maternal grandparents in Jefferson County. She attended one room schools in Jefferson and Marion Counties and graduated from Salem High School in 1946. Growing up on a farm, she was active in 4-H club and Marion County Rural Youth organization. She received her bachelor’s in education from S.I.U. Carbondale and her masters from the University of Illinois. She taught Second Grade in the Salem School System for 37 years, retiring in 1986. She was a lifetime member of I.E.A., N.E.A. and Illinois Retired Teachers Association, of which she was Secretary of the local organization for 20 years. She also served as Secretary of the Salem School System Credit Union for 42 years. She enjoyed singing in several community choirs, one which was Mrs. Wilson’s community choir which performed The Messiah for many years. She was a member of Romine Prairie Church all her life, serving in many capacities: Teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, both President and Secretary of the United Presbyterian Women, Ordained Elder and Clerk of Session for many years. She enjoyed crafts, embroidering, crocheting, and knitting. She had a passion for crossword puzzles and jig-saw puzzles. Mary is survived by her brother, Eugene “Gene” Morton of Kell, as well as a host of cousins. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Zenas and Gertie Parkinson, her paternal grandparents Elmer and Janie Morton, her parents, one brother, Leroy Morton, and her sister, Betty Jane Morton, of Plainfield, IL. Graveside services will be held on Monday October 12, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at the Romine Prairie Cemetery in Kell, with Kevin McGinnis officiating. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Romine Prairie Cemetery or the charity of the donor’s choice and can be left at Crouse Funeral Home who is assisting the family with arrangements. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Mary Gertrude Morton, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.