Helen Foust Morton

AIKEN, SC - The family of Helen Foust Morton wished her farewell on May 15, 2016. Helen was welcomed into the world by Kelly and Chloe Foust on December 28, 1930 in a place formerly called Lake City, TN, a coal mining community known for hard-working and proud people. Helen had six siblings: Charles “Clyde” and John (of Rocky Top), Louise Harnett (of Aiken, SC), Janet Adkins (of Statesville, NC), the late James “Jimmy” and Faye Adkins (of Rocky Top). Helen was a high school cheerleader who married a football player from a rival school in June of 1946. Together, she and Leland “L. R.” Morton tended to a life and an amazing garden that said more about them than words ever could. Between the pole beans and tomatoes, they ushered three children into the world, Richard of Columbia, SC, and Pam Baxley and Sally Ferriter (Mark) of Aiken, SC. In 1960, the family migrated to Aiken, SC where Leland was employed by Owens Corning and Helen began a thirty year career as an office manager and bookkeeper. Her humble coal mining town sense of pride and hard work did not go unnoticed. Twenty years after retirement, her last employer, Hoyt Grace, still sent Helen what she referred to as her annual Christmas bonus. In 2005, Helen lost her football player. Though no less lovely, the garden they tended together shrank, but the family continued to grow. Helen is loved and also survived by four grandchildren to whom Helen was affectionately known as “Dear” (Chrissey Miller, Reed Morton, Helen Faulk, and Leland Ferriter), and five great-grand children (Blair and Gracey Sims, Patrick and Maggie Morton, and Elloree Helen Faulk). Visitation will be held on Saturday May 21, 11:00 A.M. followed by a graveside service at Island Ford Baptist with Rev. Dr. George H. Grant II officiating. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to Island Ford Baptist Church, c/o Rex Devoe, 154 Shelby St., Rocky Top, TN 37769. Hatmaker Funeral Home in Rocky Top will arrange interment. 865/426-2158 SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC 29801 Mrs. Morton’s online guestbook may be signed at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Helen Foust Morton, please visit our flower store.