Ruth (Green) Morton

Ruth passed into the arms of her Lord Jesus on July 9, 2024. Born in 1931 to Walter “Bud” and Mattie Green, Ruth was proud of being a farm girl from Route 2, Roscoe. Growing up in the Depression and entering her teens during WWII, she learned to work hard and spend little. Bud made an attachment for the plow so Mattie could take her along in a crib as the mule turned the garden soil.

She attended school in Sweetwater, meeting and marrying E. L. “Sarge” Morton. Moving to Lubbock led them to start a wholesale plumbing business in 1963 named C & M Supply. Their first order was a small pile of pipe fittings and valves that would fit into a few buckets. She swallowed hard when she realized that she was counting on those buckets to support her family for the next few weeks. Her lessons in tenacity paid off as she - like most small business owners - became a jack of all trades. She got her hands dirty during the day handling plumbing orders, kept books at night, and mothered three kids during her off hours. It’s true that she was strict, but we knew she would take a bullet for us. Bantering with the plumbers and “keeping them in line” was a favorite part of her job. Working was enjoyable and she stayed with it for over 55 years. She made time to be PTA president and was a volunteer in getting the new polio vaccine distributed to local school children back in the 60’s. She enjoyed oil painting in her spare time.

Ruth truly loved people, but she had no problem speaking blunt truth and holding folks accountable. If a customer put off paying his bill, she would inform him that she’d be bringing her kids to eat at his house that evening since she didn’t have the money to feed them at her house. Ruth adored children of all ages and backgrounds, and she was a force to be reckoned with if they were being mistreated in her presence. She had a quick wit and loved to laugh - especially at herself. Faith in her loving God sustained her through the many challenges of life and delivered her to our Lord this week.

Survivors include her husband, Sarge, children Nancy Dement (Kent), Linda Craig (Gary), and Jim Bob Morton (Terry), and a brother, Carrol Green. She leaves behind 8 grandchildren (Kerie Boshka, Kellie Donahoo, Dru Dement, Casey Morton, Andy Morton, Cori Dewbre, Seth Morton, and Anna Craig,) and 16 great grandchildren. Preceding her in death is granddaughter Rachel Craig and a sister, Betty Jo Sloniger.

Visitation is at Resthaven Funeral Home on Friday, July 19 from 4 to 7pm. A Celebration of Life will occur at Resthaven on Saturday, July 20 at 10am, followed by a graveside service and a reception. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or your favorite children’s charity.