Frederick Howard Gorton

Frederick Howard Gorton was born in Detroit, Michigan on July 10, 1933 and died on May 21, 2023 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Fred grew up in Milford, Michigan. Went to Milford High School where he was the catcher on the baseball team, played basketball and was the captain of the football team and All American, proudly proclaiming his jersey number 47 to be his lucky number for his entire life. He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Ann Reed, his wife for 72 years. Fred loved his Detroit pro sport teams and was an unpaid recliner coach for over 70 years. He was an avid reader, often reading 3-10 newspapers a day. The Gorton family lived in Howell, Michigan from 1955 to 1971. In 1971 the tough, talented, hardworking, Union bricklayer purchased Fruitport Cut Stone and moved his family to Shelby, Michigan so that Fred could be self-employed and have more freedom over his schedule to accommodate the wrestling and sports schedules of his children. He became well known in the wrestling community throughout Michigan as a father and a fan. In 1982, a fire destroyed the family’s home in Stony Lake, Michigan and Fred moved the business and the family to Grand Rapids changing the name of the company to The Stone Zone, where it continues to grow and support several Gorton families. Preceding Fred in death are his parents Elizabeth (Maguire) and Howard Gorton of Milford, Michigan, his brother Art Gorton of Texas, and his son Mickey Gorton of Anaheim, California. Surviving Fred are his wife, Bobbie, his children Patricia & Chris McDaniels of Grand Rapids, Terry Gorton of Traverse City, Peggy and Allan Armstrong of Maine, Paul and Donna Gorton of California, Joe and Colette Gorton of Shelby, Michigan, Kelly Gorton and Laurie Poppen of Shelby, Michigan, Casey Gorton of Kent City, Michigan, Tim Gorton of Kent City, Michigan, Beth and Tim Marsman of Evart, Michigan, Mark and Connie Gorton of Belmont, Michigan, Mary and Tom Love of Liberty Hill, Texas, and Matt Gorton of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Fred will be sorely missed by all 50 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren and his 2 great-great grandchildren. Fred is also survived by his 3 sisters and 2 brothers-in-law and a sister-in-law, Kathleen Miller of West Branch, Michigan, Pat and Dick Tway of Vista, California, Joey Harvey of Fort Meyers, Florida, and Carol and Walter Reed of New Burn, North Carolina, many nieces and nephews as well as grand nieces and nephews, and great-grand nieces and nephews. There is a saying that a man is only as rich as the number of children he fathers, and as you can see that by this standard Fred was a very rich man indeed. He instilled the importance of persistence, loyalty and hard work in his children, and throughout his life provided proof that ordinary people can make a difference. The Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Thursday June 1, 2023 at 11:00 am at St. Mary Church, Marne. His family will receive visitors Thursday June 1, 2023 from 10:00 to 11:00 am at the church. Burial will take place at St. Mary Church Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary Church, Marne.

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Frederick Howard Gorton

July 10, 1933 - May 21, 2023