Morton Dickson, Jr.

Morton Dickson, Jr. was born on December 3, 1920 to Mabel Madeline (Farrell) Dickson and Morton Dickson in Cañon City, Colorado. His high school years coincided with the end of the Great Depression, and he drove dump trucks and other heavy construction equipment for his father. Morton completed many high school assignments while on construction jobs. After graduation, he continued to work with his father in mining and heavy construction in the mountains of Colorado. In 1942, Morton signed up with the Army Corps of Engineers and was deployed in the Aleutian Islands. He was among the landing parties on Adak, where he assembled heavy equipment to construct runways, docks, roads and radar installations. Morton landed on Kiska in 1943, to prepare the beach for landing craft. Morton returned to the States in 1944. While on leave in Pueblo, his sister, Beverly, introduced him to Evelyn Williams, who would later become his wife. He deployed in Okinawa in 1945. Preparations were underway for the invasion of Japan when news of the war’s end came in August 1945. Morton was honorably discharged from the Army in 1946. Morton eloped with Evelyn Williams to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and they were married in 1946. Morton and his bride moved to Colorado Springs where they ran the Rodeo Court hotel and restaurant with his father and mother. Morton returned to Pueblo in 1948, and worked as a mechanic for Weicker Transfer and Storage Company. He attended Pueblo Junior College, and graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in diesel mechanics. He worked for Weicker for 24 years and retired on a disability in 1975. After retirement, he volunteered as an adjunct professor in diesel mechanics at the University of Southern Colorado. Morton joined the Boy Scouts of American as a boy in 1933. He served as a cub pack leader and scoutmaster of Troop 47 for 22 years, working with 23 boys who became Eagle Scouts. He received the Good Shepherd Award from the Baptist Church in 1979 for distinguished service leading toward spiritual, physical, mental and moral development of youth. The Rocky Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts awarded Morton the Silver Beaver award in 1985. Morton enjoyed western and old time gospel music that he loved to inflect on family and friends. He was particularly fond of Hank Williams, Slim Whitman and Chet Atkins. Due to declining health, Morton’s home became the Veterans Administration Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center in Pueblo in 2013. He was privileged to live in the company of his fellow veterans and our country’s heroes. Morton is survived by his wife, Evelyn; three children, Morton, Richard and Mark; seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, mother and sister, Beverly (Dickson) Chitty. A private memorial service was conducted at the Pueblo Veterans Administration Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center in February. A public memorial service and celebration of his life is set for August 3, 2015 at 11 am at the Wesley Methodist Church in Pueblo. The family suggests memorial donations to the Pueblo Community College Foundation, 900 W. Orman Ave., Pueblo, CO 81004; or PAWS for Life, 800 N. Pueblo Boulevard, Pueblo, CO 81003. Arrangements were under the direction of Davis Mortuary of Pueblo, Colorado. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.davismortuary.com.