Alta Gailene Morton
Alta Gailene Morton, 85, of Holmes Beach, died March 17.
She was born Alta Gailene McCoy Feb. 6, 1939, in Washington Court House, a small city in Union Township, Fayette County, Ohio.
She moved to Anna Maria Island in 1993 with her husband, Pat, who soon after became a Holmes Beach city commissioner and still serves the city.
She was a Baptist.
She loved all animals but especially horses, and she loved to go horseback riding.
She enjoyed a career in office work until she became sick 17 1/2 years ago.
There is no service planned.
Donations are being collected by the city of Holmes Beach for a flowering royal poinciana to be planted at city hall. Checks should be made to the city, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach FL 34217, with a memo “in memory of Gailene Morton.”
Mrs. Morton is survived by her husband of 45 years, Pat; daughter Tina Black; and grandson Dustin Black.
Laurie Murdock
Laurie Murdock, 66, of Holmes Beach, died March 14 after a short battle with cancer.
She grew up in West Dover, Vermont, attended Wilmington High School and attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri.
Her passions were for gardening, red wine, craft beer and peanut M&Ms. She also was a NASCAR fan.
She was a member of the Springfield Elks Lodge #1560.
She loved animals and was a talented horse rider. Above all, she loved dogs and rescued many elderly dogs that needed a home for life. She loved monarch butterflies and maintained a garden to attract them.
Mrs. Murdock and her husband loved to travel, especially to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. They went on many trips, including to Alaska and Hawaii.
She also enjoyed thrifting and giving old furniture pieces a new life with her talent and style, and she created many beautiful stained-glass pieces. She also enjoyed photography, fishing, boating, walking on the beach and hunting for sand dollars and shark’s teeth.
She loved her grandchildren, and they had many laughs together, whether splashing at the beach or cannonballs into the fall leaves.
Memorial donations may be made to a local humane society or animal shelter.
There will be no service at this time.
Mrs. Murdock is survived by her husband, Andrew; daughters Amanda May and husband Kevin Fargo and Leah; mother MaryAnne Kaemmerlen; sisters Robin and husband Steve May and Susie and husband Ross Jeffery; grandson Emerson Belanger; dogs Bert and Gator; and many other friends and family members.