Stanley Gorton

Stanley Bullard Gorton, age 77 years of Niles, Michigan died at 2:41 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at Lakeland Medical Center in Saint Joseph, Michigan following an extended illness.

He was born on November 3, 1938 in Niles to Murle E. and Harriett M. (Bullard) Gorton. He was graduated from Niles High School in 1956, and was first employed at the former Tyler Refrigeration company. He enlisted in the United States Navy, serving for four peaceful years, and continued his education at Lake Michigan College. He then began his career at National-Standard in Niles, completing thirty-five years before retirement.

Stan was a fifty-year plus member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles. He was a licensed pilot, and had advanced his ratings to fly six-passenger aircraft with retractable landing gear – the Beechcraft Bonanza – and flew out of the Jerry Tyler Memorial Airport (3TR) in Niles every chance that he had. He also enjoyed automobiles, usually having one or two special cars in his garage, the favorite being a red ’67 Corvette. For many years, he made an annual trip to Las Vegas, and more recently visited the Blue Chip Casino and the Four Winds.

On September 16, 1967 at First Presbyterian Church he married the former Helen Ruth Filley with whom he celebrated last year the Forty-eighth anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes his wife, Helen Gorton and their daughters, Jean Machak of Washington, D.C. and Dacia (& Dan) Belknap of Harrisonburg, Virginia; grandchildren Drew Machak, Kristin Gilmore, and Taylor Belknap; and Stan’s brother, Eugene F. Gorton of Niles and several nieces and nephews.

Services for Stanley Gorton will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at the First Presbyterian Church in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating assisted by the retired Rev. Jan Van Lear. Committal will be in The Columbarium of First Presbyterian Church.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. Contributions in memory of Stan may be made to The Foundation of the First Presbyterian Church.