nd received her Bachelor of Social Work degree, graduating in 1979 with honors. She served the Marquette area for 26 years as a case service manager at Pathways Community Mental Health Center, retiring in 2005. For more than two decades she worked with Pathways' most challenging clients, men and women of the community stricken with severe mental illness. She was a mentor to younger colleagues and appreciated for her dry wit and sunny disposition. In 2005, after an 18-year courtship she married the love of her life, Douglas Morton. Over the years, they could be found at their usual table at the Casa Calabria, the family cabin on Shot Point or volunteering at Marquette General Hospital or the Janzen House. While Arlynn loved Lake Superior and was often lulled to sleep by its roars during November, her sons maintain they've never seen her step foot in the Big Lake. Arlynn would sometimes gently complain about the long Marquette winters, but her greater nemesis was heat and humidity reinforcing the notion that she was in the right place. Arlynn was known as a wonderful conversationalist and would rarely venture out without engaging in a quick "stop and chat" with friends or a wandering mental-health client. Her strong Catholicism masked a sometimes-ribald sense of humor gleaned from Larry David and Don Imus. Arlynn was a caring daughter to her beloved mother and would drive often to see "Edna Jean" in the Soo. Her sons loved her dearly, spoke to her regularly and used any excuse to come home. Arlynn was born into a tumultuous world, but she forged a family life marked by love and stability. Arlynn is survived by her husband Douglas Morton; sons, Matthew (Jane) of Marquette, Jeffrey (Mitra) of Chevy Chase, Maryland and Christopher (Stephenie) of Johns Creek, Georgia; stepchildren, Nate Morton of Marquette and Emily of Las Vegas, Nevada; brother, George (Vivian) Semanko; grandchildren, Mark, Meredith, Molly, Ryan and Emily; great grandchildren, Matthew and William. She was preceded in death by her father George, mother Edna and grandson, Aaron L. Surrell. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 30th at St. Michael Catholic Church with Rev. Gregory Heikkala officiating and Rev. Dustin Larson concelebrating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass. A light fellowship social will follow the Mass in the reception hall. Burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery. Arlynn's Mass of Christian Burial will be livestreamed at https://my.gather.app/remember/arlynn-a-morton In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Arlynn's memory to St. Michael Memorial Fund, 401 W. Kaye Ave., Marquette, MI 49855 or the Trillium Hospice House, 1144 Northland Dr., Marquette, MI 49855 Canale-Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting Arlynn's family where memories and condolences may be shared at canalefuneral.com
Canale Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services
Marquette, MI 49855
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