Kirby Gene Morton

Kirby Gene Morton, 61, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away Saturday, January 18th, 2025, in his home in Springfield, Missouri.

Gene, as everyone knew him, was born September 4th, 1963 in Springfield, Missouri to Larry and Kay Morton. He was a dedicated husband, son, brother, father and grandfather.

In 1986, he married his best friend, Melissa Morton, and without hesitation, took on being a father of two. A year later, they had their first daughter together and in 1990, they welcomed their only son. Gene was a very patient and fun dad, always willing to play catch, tetherball, badminton, ride skateboards or bikes, and shoot hoops. He was quite athletic and was even on a volleyball team with his wife at one point.

He was also a very hard worker and spent 39 years working for Springfield Remanufacturing Company (SRC). In his free time, he and his father, Larry, built and raced go-karts. Gene raced for years before helping his son, JC, begin a successful racing career of his own.

Racing (specifically, dirt track racing) was in his DNA. It was and still is a generational hobby. He even turned this hobby into a job with the Midwest Latemodel Racing Association (MLRA), where he announced at the racetracks with his wife, Melissa, scoring the races by his side. Needless to say, racing was a huge part of his life, and where he met the majority of his innumerable friends. His positive, laid-back, and friendly demeanor has left a lasting impression on those who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Gene is survived by his wife, Melissa Morton; son and daughter-in-law, JC and Destiny Morton, and their children, Zoey, Emerson, and Hudson; his daughter and son-in-law, Kayla and Anthony Roth, and their son, Atlas; his daughter and son-in-law, Amy and Kameron Perrodin, and their children, Kalice and Knox; his daughter and son-in-law, Allison Williams and Zachary Crownover; his mother, Kay Morton; his sister and partner, Toni Morton and William Clint Tillotson; as well as two special pups. He was preceded in death by his beloved father, Larry Morton.