Walter Hayes Morton Sr. – born Oct. 31, 1942, passed away Aug. 27, 2016.

Walt was the son of James Morton & Louise Rails, grandson of Pop & Bessie Tripp. He was born in San Francisco, but grew up most of his life in Salyer, with every summer being spent up in Somes Bar with his gram on the Salmon.

Walt was always a very hard worker. He started working early on when he was just a youngster cleaning at the old RedBud Theater in Salyer. After that job he went to work at the grocery store in Willow Creek for Ted Beecher. After several part-time jobs Walt decided to join the laborers union, where he worked for a long time on the new Hwy 299. While working in the laborers union driving water truck Walt decided he wanted to own and drive his own truck, so in 1964 with the help of good family friend Bill Singleton, Walt purchased his very first truck and began his lifelong career and passion of owning and driving trucks.

Walt always had a drive to get what he wanted. When he was 15 years old he hitchhiked all the way to San Francisco so he could buy his first car, a 1956 Chevy that he bought with money he earned and saved all on his own. Walt not only knew how to work hard, he knew how to play hard. Those who knew Walt growing up can attest to the fact that he like to party, drink and have a lot of fun. Walt loved to live, he knew what he wanted out of life and he always made it happen.

One thing many will remember about Walt was his love to gamble. He and Carol went to Reno annually so that he could roll that dice. He loved to play craps. Even as a young boy his parents and siblings would often catch Walt shaking the dice around always ready for the next game. There were many, many fun-filled and exciting dice games played at his shop with the boys. When it came to drinking, Walt’s favorite beer was always Michelob. He drank Coors here and there, but always preferred Michelob. His philosophy on drinking was “Drink beer as much as you want and as long as you want, but you gotta get up and go to work in the morning!” and that’s what he did.

Walt was also a very generous person. If he had it and you needed, it was yours. When Walt had money, we all had money. He liked to be surrounded by people who liked to laugh and just have fun like himself.

Walt always took pride in his appearance. He always had to look sharp. From his clothes, to his cars, to his trucks, everything was always top-notch and shiny clean. He like to special-order his trucks with all the top features. When the truck got delivered he was especially proud of the little metal plate fastened to the dash that said “made special for Walt Morton.” A few of those plates are still floating around the flat.

In order to keep up his sharp appearance Walt had to make money, and boy did he like to make money. During the 70s he had as many as 15 bottom dumps and 5 semi-end dumps, all running at the same time. Walt was proud of the fact that in 1980 he grossed one million dollars in earnings. Aside from trucking, he liked to make money buying and selling things. He had a knack for buying cars and flipping them for a profit. He was a natural salesman, probably because he was a natural flirt and charmer.

One more thing to mention about Walt and what else he loved … he loved his music. Many nights he would sit at his dining room table into the wee hours of the morning with Van Morrison blaring as loud as the stereo would allow. You couldn’t be mad about the music though — he was having such a good time you couldn’t help but smile because you knew he was having a blast.

Walt loved a lot. Walt was loved by many. And he will be missed by all.

Walt was preceded in death by his mother Louise Rails, step-dad Leroy Rails, siblings Duke Morton, Gary Rails, Bonny Morton, Tommy Morton, and Suzie Rails, his grandparents Bessie & Pop Tripp and grandson Walter Moon.

He leaves behind his wife Carol, daughter Wendy, sons Wayde & Wally, daughter-in-law Brandy, three step-children Teresa Campbell, Micah and Jacob Arnold. His brother Chuck, sister-in-laws Lucy, Missy, sister Delma, brother-in-law Odus Powell, grandchildren Kara, Rosella, Charlie & Cassidy, Tristan, Nanya and Walter III (Wogs). Great-grand children Solo, Jack, Pearl, and Little Charlie Hayes. Nieces Debbie, Terry, Tory, Toni, Buffy. Nephews Vernon, Barry, Beau, Jamie, Chad, Charlie, Frankie, Davie, Jeff, and Gary Glenn. Sister-In-Laws & Brother-In-Laws Anne & Donnie Horton, Linda & Bebo Ashworth, Margaret Ferguson, Donald & Gayla Mason, and David & Mildred Mason.

Services will be held Saturday Sept. 3 at the Assembly of God Church on Tish Tang Road in Hoopa at 11 a.m., Pastor Juan Armand officiating. Burial will be immediately following at the family cemetery in Somes Bar with reception following at the Karuk Community Center.

Pallbearers: Chip Grant, Guy Haddad, Barry Powell, Beau Morton, Robert Masten, Darrell Mabry Sr., Bob Hunsucker, Roger Sanderson

Honorary pallbearers: Juan Armand, Walt Lara Sr., Zane Grant, Odus Powell, Gordon Peard, Herb Hartley, Denny Earl Kane, Vernon Powell, Jaime-Boy Morton, Chad Morton, Little Man Tripp, Merlin Tripp, Bill Tripp, Johnnie Garrison, Bobby, Salvator , Emanuel, & Dorin Sammartino, Kevin Colegrove, Gary Colegrove Sr., Doomey Beck, Kenny Lucas, Kenny Bain, Big Dan, Jim Borders, Donny Young, Chris Canteberry (sp?), Tom Berrien, Dan Cooke, Bob Rice, Don Gosney, Rodney & John Robbins, Kenny Doolittle, Tom Horn, 2 Beer Dave-DJ, Greg & David Harris, Billy Maloney, Richard Roland, Buck Mace, Ron Jurin, Harvey Crews, Buck Crews, Travis McKelvy, Jason Wilder, Gordy Peard, Gene Avery, Junky Gray, Otto Hodge, Bud Alvis Johnson, Gerald Moon, Oscar Billings, Spam Ferris, Darrell Baker, Dion Baker, Jeff Hodge, Owee & Nolan Colegrove, Randy King, Ben Sanderson, Big-Guy Tim Casey, Ralph Brown, Joe LeMieux, Ronny Powell, Phil Mattz, Doug Brown, Mike McCurdy, Bill Taylor, Larry & Hank Alameda, Jason from Fleetpride, Mike Ferris, James Hill, Lenny Skinner, Lee White, Ted Johnson, Bill Saltsman, Rayburn Gosney, Wayne King, Gary Dempewolf, Carl Jensen, Bill Green, Jack Hay, Gordy McNeil, Sheldon Gosney, Brady McNew, Duffy Mott, Francy Mott, Roger & Cliff Houston, John Marshall, Troy Bonner, Robbie Moon, Kevin Horn, Steve Ross, Duane McLelland, Rusty Wallace, Dennis Jackson, Carl Jensen, Robby & Hugh Moon, Corey Gosney, Vic Starritt, Victor & Tony Mattz, Everette Muss Colegrove, Pepe Johnson, Red Snake Walt Lara, Dale Risling, Frankie.

Apologies to those we may have missed.

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The obituary above was submitted by Walt Morton’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.