Passed peacefully at Joseph Brant Hospital on Friday, October 1st 2021 in her 98th year. Donna joins her beloved husband the late Gavin Morton (1995), her dear son Christopher Morton (1992) and daughter-in-law Fortunitta Cherry (2008). Donna will be deeply missed by her children Jill (Howard) Nelson, and Steven (Wendy) Morton; by her cherished grandchildren Corey (Rebecca), Andrea (Jean), Lindy (Stephen), and Steve (Bethany); her great granddaughters Holly and Leah, nieces and nephew.
Born in the beautiful village of North Hatley, Québec on November 30, 1923, Donna was the daughter of farmers Alfred and Alida Auger (nee Kent), and had three older siblings (Randolph, Valmore, Thelma). At age 18, following one year of business school, Donna worked as a secretary for Johns-Manville, at Val-des-Sources (formerly Asbestos), Québec. In 1945, while attending a Mart Kenney Big Band concert in Sherbrooke, she met Hamilton musician Gavin Morton. A whirlwind romance ensued and the couple married at Toronto’s City Hall in June of that year.
Gav continued his musical career, and the couple resided in Toronto until 1948 before moving to San Clemente, California, where they learned to make and sell ceramics. Returning to Ontario in 1950, they relocated to Burlington. Gav formed the Gav Morton Orchestra that became the Brant Inn resident band from 1951 to 1961, while Donna kept active volunteering and raising their young family. During the latter part of the 1960s and 70s, she worked as bookkeeper for Gav’s retail menswear shop at Roseland Plaza in Burlington. Utilizing her people skills, during the latter part of 1970s and 1980s, Donna became one of the top part-time sales clerks for J. Michael’s clothiers.
Donna was fiercely independent, feisty, silly, funny, affectionate, smart and compassionate. She had a deep passion for music, books, nature, travel, family, friends, and was a member of East Plains United Church for over 25 years. She enjoyed the game of bridge and loved to play crokinole with her grandchildren. An avid golfer, Donna fondly remembered her many years as a member of Burlington’s Golf and Country Club, but never forgot her roots as a farm girl from a small Québec town.
For the past two years, Donna resided at Hampton Terrace Care Home in Burlington where she could often be heard saying, “See you later, alligator.” Her spunk and sparkle will forever be missed.
For those who wish, memorial donations to Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital Foundation or East Plains United Church would be sincerely appreciated by the family.
A private family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
“In a while, crocodile.”
Read Less
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Donna Arlene Morton Auger Friday October 1st 2021..
Death notice for the town of: , Province: Ontario