Richard Rutledge Morton

RICHARD RUTLEDGE MORTON, 77, passed away on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

Born humbly in LaFollette, TN, Richard was the son of Leland Rutledge Morton and Helen Foust Morton. When he was in junior high, the family moved to Aiken, SC where Richard, known to his Aiken friends as “Rick” or “Rickey”, attended Kennedy Middle School, Aiken High School and USC-Aiken. He eventually graduated from USC in Columbia, SC.

Rick was often a third parent to his sisters, Pamela and Sally, for whom he provided support, guidance, and essentials like winter coats. He had a propensity to spoil his youngest sister especially, and once even purchased her a horse.

As a youngster, Rick was able to contribute to his family’s wellbeing through odd jobs like delivering papers, driving the school bus, setting pins at the bowling alley, car hopping at A&W, picking cotton, or playing music with a band called The GTO’s.

As a teenager, Rick met his future wife, Mary Patricia “Patti” Purser. The young couple moved to Columbia, SC and spent 36 years together, committed to their marriage and their children, Christian “Chrissey” and Reed until Patti lost her battle with cancer in December of 2005. They enjoyed antiquing, traveling, and decorating their dream home on Lake Murray.

In 2019, Richard moved back to Aiken, SC where he connected with a former Aiken High classmate, Carol Reynolds. The two became sweethearts and enjoyed great conversations, good food, crossword puzzles, concerts, and travel.

Richard was a dedicated employee of SCE&G for decades and retired as the General Manager of Facilities and Real Estate. One of his proudest achievements was the development of the corporate campus in Cayce, SC. He prided himself on putting his people first and doing the right thing for them and the company until his retirement in 2014.

Richard made a second job out of coaching recreation league sports. He was especially committed to basketball and baseball for which he coached beyond his children’s participation. In 1991, Rick helped coach the Irmo Dixie Boys All Star Team to a State Championship and nearly a World Series title. Although he coached dozens of different teams, it was this team about which he spoke most passionately and most often.

Rick’s other sporting passion was golf. He was an avid fundraiser for junior golf in South Carolina in the 1980s and was a good player in his own right winning several tournaments throughout his life. In his 50’s Rick crossed the Atlantic for this first time to play golf in Scotland and Northern Ireland. This began a love affair with travel that led to playing 20 of the world’s top 100 courses and seeing most of the US and much of Europe.

It was on this last outing, a family vacation in France, that Richard became very ill, was hospitalized, and asked to be returned to the United States where he could be with his family. With great effort, he endured the flight back home where he was able to visit with family for a few hours before passing just after midnight on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

Survivors include his sweetheart, Carol Reynolds; his daughter, Christian Morton and her partner, Kyle Seconi (Aiken); his son, Reed Morton and his wife, Emily Morton (Brentwood, TN); grandchildren Blair Sims and Grace Sims, children of Christian Morton; Patrick Morton and Margaret Morton, children of Reed and Emily Morton; sister, Sally Morton Ferriter and her husband, Mark Ferriter. Richard was predeceased by his wife, Patricia Purser Morton; parents, Leland and Helen Morton; and his sister Pamela Morton.

Visitation will take place from noon to 1:00 PM on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at Shellhouse-Rivers Funeral Home located at 715 East Pine Log Road in Aiken, SC 29803, with a service following. Interment will take place at 4:00 PM at Bush River Memorial Gardens, located at 5400 Bush River Road in Columbia, SC 29212. Please join the family after the services to share food, libations, and memories of Richard at Wintergreen Woods located at 1032 Corley Mill Rd, Lexington, SC 29072.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to IGA Nephropathy (igan.org) or to a favorite charity.

SHELLHOUSE – RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC