CAMDEN - Edwin Joseph "Skip" Morton passed from this life into the presence of the Lord on Dec. 15. 2016, at Windward Gardens in Camden.

Skip was born on Vinalhaven on March 11, 1925, the youngest child and only son of Joseph Washburn Morton and Bessie (Fernald) Morton.

From a very young age, Skip became a lobsterman accompanying his father and Uncle Frank Brown, lobstering out of Carver's Cove, Vinalhaven.

During his childhood/teen years he enjoyed baseball, stickball and ice boating. Skip loved music and his trusty harmonica was always near his side until breathing became an issue a few years ago. He had many flower and vegetable gardens on the family property on Dushane Hill Road on the island. Wooden crafts such as clam rollers and stands were created in his work shop that he dubbed The Knox Woolen Annex, complete with sign. Oral history was important to him and he regaled many local friends and family with stories of “wit and grit."

Skip proudly served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Contracting rheumatic fever took a toll on his health and he was hospitalized for 18 months at the Naval Hospital in Corona, Calif., having to learn to walk again.

After his service, he returned to Vinalhaven, where he devotedly cared for his parents, saving the family home from repossession by using his military pay to clean up back taxes and liens. He helped his father with strawberry gardens and lobstering. When his mother became terminally ill with cancer in the 1950s, he faithfully and single-handedly took over her care. It is an understatement to say that his complete focus was on making his parents comfortable.

On Feb. 24, 1970, he married Carolyn Clayter, a widow with four daughters ranging from 8 to 21 years old. He was a loving, good-hearted man and treated the girls as his own. He was a sensitive man, always putting others' needs first. More than once he gave a friend his last dime.

For many years he worked for Bunkers' Inc. as a laborer. For several years he worked at the Knox Woolen Mill in Camden. Returning to Vinalhaven once again he worked for the Town of Vinalhaven, maintaining the various cemeteries, mowing lawns and taking on odd jobs.

In later years Skip lived in Rockland and moved to Windward Gardens in 2012. There he amused the nurses by singing and playing his harmonica. He really enjoyed the group Rose and the Wayfaring Strangers, who brought him much joy.

Skip never got over the death of his best friend, Robert Tolman, whom he loved as a brother.

In addition to his parents, Skip was predeceased by two sisters, Lucille T. Burgess and Louise G. Chapin; a niece, Brenda Still; and two stepdaughters, Ruth Clayter Dowse and Judith C. Wahlman. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Carolyn of Camden; his two daughters, Dawn Clayter (Jim) Morrison of Clinton, Mass., and Lisa Clayter (Rick) Winslow of Thomaston; four grandchildren, Seth (Alicia) Morrison of Marlborough, Mass., Carissa (Joshua) Ellerd of Lake Wales, Fla. , Caleb (Lorien) Winslow of Augusta, Maine, and Stephanie (Dave) Melo of Massachusetts; seven great-grandchildren, Bryce and Avery Ellerd, Evan Melo, Jack and Sadie Morrison and Lia and Chloe Winslow; two nieces, Rachel (Dana) Clark of Brewer and Jacqueline Thurston of New York; as well as three nephews, David Brown of Vinalhaven, Ross Brown of Spencer, Mass., and Robert Francis Brown of Woodstock, Conn.

Skip wanted to be remembered to Lauretta, Brett, April, Flinn and Lacey Robinson, Larry Coombs, the Peter Richards family, the Bunker families, his co-workers at Bunkers, especially Steve Small and Walter Webster, and to all of his co-workers at Knox Woolen Mill, especially Harold Drinkwater, friends Herb and Marge Conway, and Muriel and Clarence Conway. He loved all of his Vinalhaven friends and family.

The nurses in the Spring Gardens Unit of Windward Gardens are angels on earth. Our family wishes to thank all of them from the bottom of our hearts for more than four years of loving care and for the exceptional care he received while passing. Love you all. You know who you are.

A graveside service is planned for Friday, June 2, 2017, at 11 a.m. at Cummings Cemetery in Vinalhaven.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home.