Lena E. Morton, 98, of Warrensburg, Mo., died Oct. 22, at Warrensburg Manor Care Center.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 27, at Warrensburg Memorial Gardens with Pastor Jerry Basye officiating.

She was born August 18, 1916, in Lebanon, Mo., the daughter of James and Nellie (Mullins) Ecton.

On September 26, 1940, she was united in marriage to Raymond Clark Morton in Warsaw, Mo. He preceded her in death on November 1, 2003.

Lena moved to Elkton, Mo. After attending the Elkton school house, Lena began her academia in 1934 at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo., graduating in 1939 with a degree in Elementary Education. After Lena married, she postponed her career to begin a family in 1945, and she became a stay at home mom for several years. She resumed her career teaching first grade in 1954 in Centralia, Mo. She later moved to Warrensburg, Mo. teaching first grade until her retirement in 1979.

Lena remained an active member in her community in Warrensburg, and was involved with the Missouri Teachers Association, the Missouri Retired Teachers Association, and the First Christian Church in Warrensburg, Mo.

Lena is survived by two sons, Danny Morton and wife Marty of Gardner, Kan.; Rex Morton and wife Ethel of Kansas City, Mo.; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Helen; and one brother Harold Ecton.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the National Alzheimer’s Foundation and can be left in care of Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg, MO.