[Dialogue] David Morton's Passing

Thu Nov 30 16:53:50 PST 2023

Thank you, Rob. I needed that reminder. 

The internal flurry of numerous transitions of colleagues during the last several months floods me with both enormous gratitude and at the same time heavy-heartedness. 

You and I responded to the pain and injustice of the 1960s (civil rights and Vietnam war). We lived and worked among the stark sufferings of the poorest of the poor. We challenged those who cared to be effective and responsible. As all-consuming as our mission proved to be, as thrilling, miserable, and exhausting it was and continues to be, today’s chaos appears to dwarf what we experienced and invested.

How does one at 82 years of age continue to love this one planet? This is my question? Lots of ways I’m sure. 

Tonight, I’m learning how to join a letter writing campaign called Vote Forward. I have no idea if it is an activity that will make my old "heart bellow". But, I’m joining a group again to do something bigger than myself on behalf of what comes next — which I will never witness. 

My humming swells with bits and pieces of the lyrics from a waltz about the cost of our care.

Grace and peace are yours,
Leah

> On Nov 30, 2023, at 7:08 AM, Robertson Work via Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
> 
> Dear Marilyn,
> 
> In my view, this wasn't bad of you at all. It was out of your respect and love for David. I had already commented on a FB post about David's death that his relatives posted. I mentioned how brilliant he was. I would now add that his great smile touched me. 
> 
> Bill mentioned that some of us are overwhelmed. I agree. We are mostly in our 70s, 80s, 90s - the season for passing. And the world that we tried so hard to heal seems so full of suffering and pain and confusion. Not to mention the suffering of Earth's ecosystems on which humanity and all life depends. 
> 
> We know that there is no two-story universe. We are called to love this one planet and one universe and then to let go.
>  
> May we continue to care for others each day in every way we can.
> 
> Blessings,
> 
> Robertson Work
> Books and bio <https://www.amazon.com/Robertson-Work/e/B075612GBF>    Blogsite <https://compassionatecivilization.blogspot.com/>    Substack <https://robertsonwork.substack.com/>    Videos and articles <https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org/author/robertson-work/>    Website <https://www.robertsonwork.com/>
> From: Dialogue <dialogue-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:dialogue-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net>> on behalf of Mari Crocker via Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2023 9:40 PM
> To: Colleague Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>>
> Cc: Mari Crocker <maricrocker at gmail.com <mailto:maricrocker at gmail.com>>
> Subject: Re: [Dialogue] David Morton's Passing
>  
> Hey there, Randy,
> 
> My bad.  Karen Snyder updated me and I apologize to you and all others for overkill of sending  emails. 
> 
> Since nobody commented, I figured the message hadn’t gone through.  
> 
> Finally dear Isobel Bishop acknowledged my posting, and shared her condolences.  
> 
> After that, Karen told me she had received the notification 3 times.
> 
> When I don’t acknowledge with even a word or sentence, the passing of an OE colleage, even someone I didn’t know or work with closely. I realize it suggests I don’t care or didn’t care about their investiture in our mission.
> 
> I felt as if that was what happened re: David Morton’s passing — and that’s why I sent three messages.
> 
> Grace and peace,
> 
> Marilyn
> 
> 
> 
>> On Nov 29, 2023, at 8:52 PM, Randy Williams via Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>> wrote:
>> 
>> Marilyn, don’t know about others but I’ve received the message all 3 times. 
>> Randy
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Nov 29, 2023, at 6:02 PM, Mari Crocker via Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> (This is my third attempt to get this message out to you.  I seem to have sent it to an old address.  Hope this gets through this time.  Marilyn)
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Dear OE/ICA Global Colleagues,
>>> 
>>> It is with deep sadness, and permission from the family, that I share the news that our dear colleague and longtime personal friend of the the Crocker family, David Morton, passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2023.  David contracted a rapidly progressing form of pneumonia that did not respond to massive doses of antibiotics, and his breathing failed.
>>> 
>>> David and his first wife, Betsy (deceased 1989), were members of the EI/OE community from 1967 - 1978, serving in assignments in various places in the US and Australia.  David, a committed researcher, teacher and voracious reader, significantly expanded our Order’s outreach to understand the “new quantum sciences” and their intersection with theology in the years he was a Prior of our Research Centrum in Chicago.  He also served on the Global Panchayat, and was one of the major writers/editors of The Order Polity Document, at the request of our founder and Dean, Joseph Mathews, (just before Joe's death in 1977), to “pull together the fundamental operating principles and foundational understandings of our experimental family religious order.” 
>>> 
>>> My husband Joe and I were blessed to have been assigned to work with the Morton family both in Chicago, and in Sydney, Australia — and continued our friendship after 1988 when the OE was called out of being, and many of us continued to live out our commitment to serve those in need in many different ways.  Joe officiated at the lovely marriage of David and his wife, Denney, in 1991 and we have continued to be close friends, especially as it became more possible when Joe and I moved to Maine in 1999.
>>> 
>>> David and Betsy’s children, Kim Morton Case and Luke Morton, and Denney’s three daughters from a previous marriage, Kate, Julie and Susan all are gathering around to support their blended family in this time of loss.
>>> 
>>> I’m sure messages of condolence to David’s wife and family will be deeply appreciated: Mrs. David Morton, Apt. 2A. 18 Blueberry Lane, Falmouth, ME 04105. Cell: 207-400-9955. Email: denneymorton at gmail.com <mailto:denneymorton at gmail.com>; or  Kim Morton Case, E mail: casebkim at gmail.com <mailto:casebkim at gmail.com>
>>> 
>>> With abundant gratitude for David’s life and his gifts to us all, I offer this — and will send additional information as the family requests.
>>> 
>>> Grace and peace,
>>> 
>>> Marilyn Crocker
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