Harold R. Horton

August 3, 1917 - September 28, 2009

Harold R. Hal Horton, 92, formerly of Lansing, Michigan area, died Monday, September 28, 2009 at his residence on Roberts Bend Road in the Santa Fe Community. Funeral services for Mr. Horton will be conducted Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home with Bro. Bob Vassar and Rev. Mike Roberts officiating. Burial will follow in Maury Memorial Gardens, Garden of Peace, with military honors provided by the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Friday, October 2, 2009 from 4:00 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. A native of Fowlerville, Michigan, he was born and raised on the family farm in which he took great pride. He was the son of the late Roy D. and Bessie Rickett Horton. Growing up he worked with his dad at the Ford Garage in Fowlerville and later was employed by the Bomber Plant, which constructed military aircraft in Ypsilanti, Michigan. In 1945, he joined the United States Army and proudly served his country during World War II. He was a salesman for the Mormon Feed Company during his farming years on the family farm, which he purchased from his father. He was affiliated with Renauld Plastics, managed a Texaco Station (Lansing) with two of his sons during their college years. He started his real estate career in 1961 with Harmon Real Estate in Fowlerville and later joined The Whipp Farm Agency in Lansing. He owned and operated Horton Realty for several years before joining United National Real Estate Company, where he was a broker and later retired from. Mr. and Mrs. Horton moved to Columbia, Tennessee in 1985 and have made their home here since that time. Mr. Horton enjoyed mechanics and remodeling cars, and was a member of the Capital City Old Car Club in Lansing, Michigan. He also enjoyed music, especially gospel and barber shop quartets. He sang in his high school quartet and later for weddings, funerals and other special occasions. He enjoyed playing rook at the Maury County Senior Citizen Center. He was married to Mary Snook Shepherd Horton for the past 28 years, who survives. He was a member of the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19 and a member of Pleasant Heights Baptist Church and also, had attended Parkway Baptist Church. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Marilyn Horton of Lansing, MI and Carol Ward of Millersville, MD; three sons, Stuart (Jerri) Horton of Mason, MI; Rodney (Kathy) Horton of Mason, MI; Dennis (Suzette) Horton of Windermere, FL; ten grandchildren, Rebbecca (Robert) Coe, Andrew (Melisa) Horton, Sue (Ronald) Taylor, Paul (Jolee) Horton, Megan (Charlie) Mercer, Matthew Horton, Melanie (Eric) Murphy, Michael (Joy) Horton, Jennifer Horton, Alisha Dodd; twenty great-grandchildren; three step-children, Annette (Frank) Luciano of Lodi, NJ; Yvonne (Michael) Parker of Portland, OR; Nathan (Kimberly) Shepherd of Smyrna, TN; three step-grandchildren, Savannah Shepherd, Matthew Shepherd, and Gabrielle Shepherd; two sisters, Helen Athey of Lansing, MI and Norma Hall of Fowlerville, MI; a sister-in-law, Margaret Horton of Surprise, AZ; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Evelyn Copeman Horton; two brothers, Howard Horton and George Horton; one sister, Alice Horton Hickey. Pallbearers will be Andrew Horton, Paul Horton, Joshua Horton, Jonah Horton, Brett Coe, Robert Coe, Ronald Taylor and Nathan Shepherd. Honorary Pallbearers are Matthew Horton, Michael Horton, Elijah Horton, Zachary Taylor, friends and staff of the Maury County Senior Citizens, and members of Pleasant Heights Baptist Church and Parkway Baptist Church. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 1818 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203, or the charity of your choice. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.heritage-fhcs.com.