Merritt Dutton Morehouse, Jr.

Merritt Dutton Morehouse, Jr., died peacefully on November 6th in Athens, Georgia. He was 89 years old. He grew up in Lake Forest, Illinois, and after graduating from The Choate School and Yale University, he worked in the public relations industry in Chicago. He and his wife Joyce then moved to Michigan, where he was ordained Deacon and then Archdeacon of the Detroit Diocese of the Episcopal Church. After ordination, he served as a chaplain at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and later as a Hospice chaplain. For many years throughout his service to the Episcopal Church, Dutton was editor of Diakoneo, the magazine of the Association of Episcopal Deacons of North America.

He and his wife Joyce then built a house and moved to Washington Island, Wisconsin, where they had camped during summers for many years. Dutton was elected as Chair of the Town Board. He also served as Deacon at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Sister Bay, Wisconsin, and later as a member of the interim ministry team at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church on Washington Island. In 2015, they moved to Madison, Georgia, where Dutton was appointed Deacon at the Episcopal Church of the Advent and elected Chair of the Morgan County Democratic Party. An avid reader, Dutton had an extensive library of religion and history. During his Madison years, he was a beloved member of a non-fiction book club and was treasured for his thoughtful insights. In all things, Dutton was an inspiration for his determination to persevere and to lead with conviction. His warmth and wit will long be remembered.

Terry, as he was known to his family – Dutton to his friends – is survived by his wife Joyce, brother Sandy (Betsy), four sons – Tony (Susan) and Nick (Heather) Morehouse and Eric (Letty) and Andrew (Marie) Young – daughter Alison (Richard) Young Rasch, six granddaughters – Reagan and Jenny Morehouse, Karianne, Savannah (Pat) and Libby Morehouse, and Alexandria Young-Gomez – and grandson Marco Young. Dutton is predeceased by his father Merritt Dutton Morehouse, Sr., his mother Louise (Lackner) Morehouse, and his sister Betsy (Morehouse) Simpson. A memorial service will be held at Burge, 44 Jeff Cook Road, Mansfield, on Saturday, November 15th at 1:00 pm. Memorial contributions would be welcome at Church of the Advent in Madison, Georgia.