Lester "Earl" Morford

Lester Earl Morford, Jr., passed peacefully August 10, 2021 in Chico, CA. Salt of the earth, Earl stood for faith, family and fought for his country in World War II. Earl is survived by his wife Dorothy June Capps Morford, his daughter Pamela Suzanne Morford Weaver, granddaughter Crickett Nicole Weaver and husband Jack Mullin, grandson Jason Weaver, Commander USN and wife April Hebard Weaver, and great-grandchildren Kate Elizabeth Weaver and Luke Patrick Weaver. 

Born November 26, 1924 in Glendale, CA he was a 1943 graduate of Washington High School, Los Angeles, CA, and played trumpet with the Culliver City Post 36 municipal band. He married his high school sweetheart June Capps on February 6, 1943 and they spent 78 wonderful years together. 

Earl Morford enlisted in the United States Navy on March 26, 1943 and attended Electrician’s Mate school and Gyro Compass school in San Francisco CA. Assigned to the USS Scout, a mine sweeper, Earl deployed to combat operations in Pacific theater of World War II. There he served as an Electrician's Mate 2nd Class (ET2) from 1943-1945. ET2 Morford was awarded the American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign medal (3 stars) and the Philippine Liberation Medal (2 stars) and was honorably discharged November 23, 1945. 

After his service, Earl worked for the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company in Los Angeles, attend El Camino College and the University of Southern California (USC). Earl went on to spend 39 years with Pacific Telephone and Telegraph, as a lineman, switchman, engineer, and District Traffic Manager North Valley Dial; retiring in 1985 after the Bell system divestiture separated into Pacific Bell and AT&T. Not ready to retire, Earl went on to serve as a correctional officer for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for five yeas and one day. Earl then became an entrepreneur founding Fire Camp Clerical, a family owned business serving the US Forest Service and California Department of Forestry. 

Mr Morford was involved in the community wherever he lived. Earl was very active in the US Navy League, serving as President of the Sonoma County Council, and was a supporter of the Sea Cadets. Earl was a member of the B.P.O.E. for over twenty years, active in both the Chico and Red Bluff Elks Lodges. He was a Freemason, and was briefly involved with the Santa Rosa Host Lions Club. Mr Morford was a Greater Chico Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors nominee in 1969. The Morford’s had also been active in Kiwanis International. 

A viewing and celebration of life is to be held Thursday August 19, 2021 from 4 to 8 PM at the Rose Chapel, 6382 Clark Road Paradise, CA. and a graveside service with military honors has been scheduled to begin at 11 AM Friday August 20, 2021 at the Paradise Cemetery, 980 Elliott Road Paradise, CA.

In lieu of flowers, tax deductible donations can be made to Hospice to honor the life of Earl Morford and can be made payable to Enloe Foundation, 249 W. 6th Ave., Chico, CA. 95926 or visit Enloe.org/Donate

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