OAKLAND – Wm. Frank Morton, 83, longtime resident of Oakland, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021.

Frank was born March 29, 1937 in Oakland, son of Rev. Wm. Morton and Rev. Edith Lord Morton, now deceased. He was also predeceased by his two sisters, Joyce E. Trainor and Loraine Jones; and his son, Eric L. Morton.

He is survived by his first wife, Sylvia “Susie” Morton; his daughter, Kim Morton Sann, his son-in-law, Lowell W. Sann; and grandson, Eric Tyler Morton and his wife, Kayla, their children, Ashlynn, Eli and Jaxton, and granddaughter, Trista Morton and her children, Rory, Brody and Evelynn.

He is also survived by his second wife, Joy Leroux; his son, Andrew Morton and daughter-in-law, Alicia (Giese) Morton; his daughter, Juli (Morton) Muzeroll, his son-in-law, Tyler Muzeroll; his granddaughter, Eve Muzeroll; and many nieces, nephews; and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Frank enjoyed growing up in Oakland and was interested in art and music since his early life. He played the drums and was naturally gifted at sports. At one time he took a job hooking logs, and in his 20s he earned a brown belt in Karate.

After high school graduation he attended the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Fla. There he met Susie Labon, another artist, from Michigan. They married in 1958 and soon had Kim and Eric in Maine. In ‘62, they moved to Southern California to make a career in art. They raised their family and spent many years as commercial artists, specializing in portraiture.

Frank worked in Los Angeles and San Diego in the field advertising for companies ranging from a large grocery chain to popular radio/TV stations where he met and worked with many celebrities and drew or painted their portraits for promotions, album covers etc. In 1968, the family vacationed back to Maine. This was a significant trip because afterward they rededicated their lives to the Lord, from whom they had wandered during their youth. Frank studied and grew in the Lord and shared Christ with whomever he met. He was a sort of street evangelist, leading many to the Lord. This was the passion of his life to share the love of God.

In the early ’80s, after his marriage ended, Frank returned to Maine, which he had always missed. There he met and married Joy Cochran of Oakland. They shortly moved to California, where Andrew and Juli were born, but they soon returned to Maine where their children grew up and Frank finally settled. Although this marriage also ended, they remained friends. Frank delighted in his family and enjoyed the many friends he had made over the years and they enjoyed his peculiar and ever-present sense of humor as well as the bits of wisdom he always had to share.

Over the years, Frank mastered the art of oil painting in addition to various other types of artwork- large mural paintings, historical subject paintings and airbrush work on cars and motorcycles. Later in life, he enjoyed sharing art tips and techniques with his art students every week. He continued painting, teaching art, and sharing God’s love until he passed away. He was beloved and will be dearly missed by those who knew him.

Frank’s urn will be placed inside a vault before burial. If you want to bring memorial tokens, pictures, letters, drawings, or anything small that has a sentimental value, we will be placing them in the vault around his urn before closing it up. Not necessary but if you really want to, you can.

Celebration of Life Service, Kingdom Life Church, 191 High St., Oakland ME 04963, June 27, 2 p.m. Reception to follow (same location). Graveside service and burial following reception, Lewis Cemetery, 51 Cottle Rd., Oakland.

An online guestbook may be signed, and memories shared at http://www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com

Arrangements are by Wheeler Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 26 Church St., Oakland.

His daughter Juli and son-in-law Tyler are requesting aid to help alleviate costs of funeral and bills left behind in Frank’s passing.

If you would like to donate, please send to jmuzeroll@hotmail.com on PayPal.

We will also take donations at the service if you prefer to use cash. Thank you!

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