William Henry "Bill" Morton

This is where the Cowboy Rides Away - William Henry “Bill” Morton passed away on May 29, 2025 in Mansfield, Louisiana.

Bill, also known as Dad, Diddums and most importantly, Biggie, was born March 1, 1944 in Mansfield, Louisiana to Madge Worsham Morton and James Millard Morton. Bill grew up in the Lula community and attended Stanley High School where he began at an early age cultivating his love of the cattle industry. After high school, Bill attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge where he lived in the new agriculture dorm under the stadium seats of his beloved Tiger Stadium. After his time at LSU, Bill enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he proudly served his country. Bill was stationed in Europe and loved to tell stories of his time in the Air Force, much to his daughters’ dismay.

After his time in the Air Force, Bill returned home to Mansfield and started a family. Bill wore several hats over the years: master electrician, part owner of the Grand Cane Livestock and Auction Barn, owner of pulp wood trucks, cattleman, Dad, Diddums, but his most prized role was being promoted to Biggie in 2015.

Bill was loved fiercely by his daughters, his granddaughter, and Debbie, along with other family and friends. Bill was smart, quick-witted, and excelled in the arts of fishing, all things cattle, drinking Bud Light and bullshitting. He loved nothing more that calling Carlee and making cattle trades with her and getting her approval for what he wanted to do with “her” cows. Bill also loved his LSU Tigers and made countless memories with his family and friends at games. He’d never admit it, but his favorite part of those trips were the car-cert rides down to Baton Rouge with his daughters’ angelic voices serenading him the entire drive. After an illness prevented him from attending himself, he beamed ear-to-ear hearing all about Carlee’s first LSU game last fall and knew he had successfully passed on the love of all things purple and gold.

Bill loved fishing and more than fishing he loved catching more fish than anyone else in the boat. Regardless if there were 2 or 10 people on the barge, Bill would make sure that they knew it was a contest. It was him and Tanya versus everyone else combined. And the Mortons seemed to prevail most often, and boy did he relish in letting them know how the Mortons opened a can of whoop *** on them.

Bill was a top-notch cattleman, and his B- brand will live on with Greg Burns (aka Hickernut), the one he’d trade Sandie for in a heartbeat, who has agreed to take the brand and continue the B- legacy for generations to come.

Proceeding him in death are his parents, Madge and Jim Morton; brother, James “Bugs” Morton; sisters, Johnnie Stennett, Raye Gamble, Kathryn Delouche, Helen Elliott and Doris Meredith.

Bill is survived by his two daughters, Tanya Orms and Sandie Morton; his only grandchild, Carlee Morton; his girlfriend, Debbie Caston; his son-in-law, Cody Orms; his bonus grandchildren, Cole and Bailee Orms and Kinsley and Kolton Kimbrel; his bonus daughter, Kim Kimbrel. Also left to cherish his memory are his sisters, Martha (Joe) Sayers and Frances (Bo) Norwood, along with a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Bill will be laid to rest with full military honors. Services will be held at Rose-Neath Mansfield Chapel on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.. Interment will immediately follow at Beulah Cemetery in the Lula Community. The family will receive visitors at Rose-Neath on Friday, June 6, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Honoring Bill as pallbearers will be Greg Burns, Josh Gooden, Jeff Harrell, Ricky Weeks, Cooper Register, Jimmy Brown, David Delouche, and Lynn Stennett. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Calvin Murray, Billy Hinds, and members of the R&A Hunting Club.