LaVon Morton
Dec. 26, 1930-March 12, 2015
Palo Alto, California
Submitted by Lynn Magill

LaVon Morton died at home in Palo Alto, California, on March 12, at the age of 84, surrounded by her family. She was born in Russell, Kansas, to Ralph and Hazel Palmer.

After graduating from Kansas State University with a degree in education, she worked at a children's radio station and as a teacher before marrying Dean Morton in 1953 and starting her own family. With their growing band of children, she and Dean moved frequently while he served in the Air Force, attended Harvard Business School and pursued a career in the electronics industry.

She never hesitated to put her family's interests ahead of her own. Between 1954 and 1960 she had four children in four different cities. During their years at Harvard, between taking care of all domestic chores and the bulk of the daily parenting, she typed Dean's papers and gave birth to their fourth child. When Dean was hired by Hewlett-Packard after graduating in 1960, she and Dean drove from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Palo Alto with all four children (ranging in age from four months to five years). LaVon was an integral part of his 32 years with HP.

She was the quintessential mother. Whenever a new grandchild was born, she was on the road to be with the newborn and parents as soon as possible after the birth. Love for her family was also evident in the many holiday gatherings and vacations that she planned and organized. No family birthday, anniversary or graduation was ever left uncelebrated without a card, gift, party or all three.

She and Dean enjoyed travel, sports, concerts, plays, and the many performances and athletic events in which their children and grandchildren participated. An accomplished and inventive cook, she often brought home culinary ideas from her trips abroad. She could prepare a full course meal of Moroccan or Indian cuisine as easily as she could single-handedly make a Thanksgiving feast for 30. She was a talented, generous, caring and elegant woman who was loved and admired by all who knew her.

The family would like to thank the many friends who visited LaVon in her last days and also express their deepest gratitude to Dr. Mehrdad Ayati and Dr. Ryan Van Wert. They went beyond the call of duty to care for LaVon and provide advice and solace to the entire family.

LaVon is survived by Dean Morton, her husband of 62 years; four children: Lynn Magill, Lori Potter, Craig Morton and Cherie Baylis; 14 grandchildren: Erica, Adam, Ilana, and Aaron Magill; Kelci, Robyn and Nathaniel Potter; Kara Potter Pennington; Sarah, Anna, Kelly, and John Morton; Tyler and Cole Baylis; and two great-grandchildren: Taj and Sparrow Potter.