Lloyd Alfred Gorton

Lloyd Alfred Gorton, age 90, died of natural causes on June 25, 2020, in his home in Madison, Alabama. Lloyd was born on October 7, 1929 in Sunbeam, Colorado, to parents Merrill Bird Gorton and Erma Pearl Archibald Gorton.

Lloyd graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in business. After graduating, he enlisted in the army. Lloyd served in the Korean War and was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1957 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. After graduation he took a job in Salt Lake City, Utah with Sperry-Rand (later Univac, then Unisys). While there he worked on the Corporal missile and was part of the team that developed the Sergeant missile, both of which were on display at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL. Lloyd retired from Unisys after 33 years of employment.

While working in Utah, Lloyd met and married Mildred Joan Webb. They were married for 57 years. They had two daughters - Lynne and Nancy. Lloyd was a great family man and a loving father who coached his daughters’ softball teams, made them a jungle gym and a playhouse, taught them to love outdoor cookouts, how to fix stuff, and how to find the best stuff at thrift stores.

Those who know Lloyd know that he could fix anything and was particularly known for his creative squirrel-proof birdfeeders. He enjoyed hot dog roasts in the backyard, listening to Garrison Keillor, watching the news, picking and cutting up sticks, watching college sports, hating on Tom Brady, collecting unusual mechanical toys and most of all—discussing the weather. His family and friends will always remember him as a smart, principled, caring, sensitive, thoughtful and kind person.

A funeral is scheduled Sunday, July 5, 2020 at the Legacy Chapel Funeral Home in Madison, Alabama. The family would like to thank Jeremy Patton, Jaida Williams and all the caregivers and staff from Visiting Angels for their loving care of Lloyd over the past several months.

Lloyd is survived by his daughters Lynne Gorton Cropper (Doug) of Pleasant Valley, IA; Nancy Gorton Law (Brent) of Madison, AL; grandchildren Anne Johnson (Michael) of Powder Springs, GA; Ted Law (Shalise)of Muncie, IN; Jim Law (Carmen) of Provo, Utah; Sam Cropper (Ellie) of Iowa City, IA; and Mary Becerra (Sergio) of Camarillo, CA. He is also survived by his eight great-grandchildren: Amelia, Jane, Grace, Anders, Jonah, Gabe, Julian and Mason. He is preceded in death by his wife, Joan; his granddaughter, Jane Cropper; his parents; and his brothers Archie Gorton; Lester Gorton, John Gorton,Harold Gorton, and Ray Gorton.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in remembrance of Lloyd Gorton to Visiting Angels at 7910 Memorial Parkway SW #F1, Huntsville, AL, 35802.