Morton Hailey Dickerson Obituary (1917 - 2012)

\ Morton Hailey Dickerson of Madisonville, KY, was called home on December 11, 2012 at 10:45 P.M. \ \ He was born March 8, 1917 on the Brown Road between Hanson, KY and Madisonville. He was the oldest son of James Arthur Dickerson and Hazel Earl Hailey Dickerson Wines. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Mary Helen Suthard Dickerson; his parents and his step-father, Rufus Wines; son-in-law, Jeff Thomison; and two brothers, James Earl Dickerson and William Thomas 'Inky' Dickerson. \ \ Morton was a very colorful man by nature and quite a teller of stories. He enjoyed his life to the fullest and was blessed by 95 years. He loved and cherished his family and his friends. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and the Wesley Brotherhood Sunday School Class. He also attended Providence Rural United Methodist Church and Outback Gang Sunday School Class in Hanson. He began working for Modern Welding Company then opened his own welding/steel fabrication business, Dickerson Welding Company, retiring in 1982. Morton was also a World War II Veteran having served in the European Theater as-well-as the Pacific. He was part of the air offensive in Japan, Ryukus, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, and Southern France. Morton was awarded EAME Theater Ribbon with 3 bronze stars, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 2 bronze stars, American Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Ribbon, WWII Victory Medal, and the Croix De Guerro & Palms. Morton was very proud of his time he served his country. He was also the oldest living member of Madisonville Noon Kiwanis, a member of Rizpah Shrine of Madisonville, Masonic Lodge #143 F&AM of Madisonville, a lifetime member of both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He was on the former Regional Center Medical Board, Madisonville Airport Board, Madisonville Ambulance Service Board, and the Madisonville-Hopkins County Fair Board for many years. He had also been 3rd District Magistrate for 25 years. Morton enjoyed being active in his community and supporting progress. \ \ Surviving are two daughters, Vicki Jean Thomison and Cathy Ann Dickerson both of Madisonville; grandchildren, are Amy Hailey (Craig) Herring, Andy Neal (Misty) Thomison, and Hailey Beth (Nathan) Tyson all of Madisonville. He has 5 great-grandchildren, Gracie Lee, Sophie Kaye, Lucy Jean Herring, Sawyer Jeff and Allie Parker Thomison, and expecting Keith Nash Tyson this month. He also has a step-granddaughter, Kaitlyn Herring of Austin, TX. There are several nieces, nephews, and cousins. \ \ Funeral service will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, December 15, 2012 at Barnett-Strother Funeral Home with Dr. Don Davis and Rev. Leighton Thomison officiating. Burial will follow in East Lawn Cemetery, Hanson with Military Honors by the Hopkins County Honor Guard. \ \ Visitation will be 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Friday and after 9:00 A.M. until the service time on Saturday at the funeral home. \ \ Pallbearers will be Tommie Joe Qualls, Lane Dickerson, Joe Morton Dickerson, Bill Hailey, Craig Herring, Nathan Tyson, and Andy Thomison. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dudley Gill, John Myers, and Ed Moore. \ \ Memorial contributions may be made to Madisonville First United Methodist Church, Providence Rural United Methodist Church, or East Lawn Cemetery. \ \ 'If the measure of a life is in the living of it, then Morton's was indeed a full life' \ \