Anita Luoma Morton, MD

Anita Luoma Morton, MD passed away in Bloomington, Indiana on March 26, 2025, surrounded by her three daughters. She lived a rich and full life.

Born in a blizzard on January 3, 1942 in Laurium, MI, Anita was the granddaughter of copper mining immigrants from Finland and grew up in Keweenaw of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She lived in small towns throughout Keweenaw raised primarily by her grandmother, Mary Winquist; her mother, Myrtle (Winquist) Luoma; and one of her many aunts, Mildred (Winquist) Kivela. Her father, Eino (“Buddy”) William Luoma, was an underground trammer for copper mining companies, and worked for the C.C.C. during the Great Depression. Anita was a popular cheerleader and figure skater in high school and loved to play pick-up ice hockey games. She graduated from Calumet High School in 1959 and remained active as an alum.

Anita married her husband of 58 years, Clifford Joseph Morton, in August 1959. They met in Calumet where Cliff was stationed in the Air Force. Most of their married life was spent in Indiana where they raised their girls, though they also lived in Ohio, Arizona, and Iowa.

At age 30, with her girls well into elementary school, Anita started college. After finishing pre-req coursework within 3 years, she was accepted to Indiana University Medical School in Indianapolis, graduating in 1979. Her internship and residency were spent in Muncie, IN at Ball Memorial Hospital. She established her practice at Caylor-Nickel Clinic in Bluffton, IN, though served most of her tenure as Chief of their Emergency Room. She was board certified in internal medicine caring for patients in primary care and the ER. She also established a Headache Pain Clinic.

An avid reader, skilled seamstress, a knitter and an amateur photographer, she embraced all she did with passion. “Nita” enjoyed exploring the shores of Lake Superior for agates, photographing cacti and butterflies in the Sonoran desert, and watching the beautiful skies. “Nina” as some of her grandchildren called her, loved her family, friends, patients, and dogs, and, in turn, was loved by them.

She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law: Deborah and Alan Burdette; Linda and Marty Verhun; Mary and Charlie Strey. Her grandchildren who brought her great joy include Aiden, Forrest, Duncan (Madison), Claire, Rachel (Andy), Nicholas (Taylor), Brandon (Madison); step-grandchildren: Matthew (Brianna), Christina (Morgan), Jacquelyn (Darren), Lora (Davin); siblings: Dave and Jill Luoma, Jerry and Dolly Luoma, and siblings-in-law: Ann and Phil Maxson, Emma Morton, Loretta Morton, Richard Morton; as well as loving nieces and nephews, and 12 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Clifford in 2017; parents Eino and Myrtle (Winquist) Luoma; and parents-in-law Clair and Blanche (Bussie) Morton, and her siblings-in-law Edward Morton, and Karol Morton.

Memorial services will be held in the future in both Bloomington, IN and in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her name to:

Keweenaw Heritage Center at St Anne's

25880 Red Jacket Rd, Calumet, MI 49913

Phone: (906) 337-2410

https://www.keweenawheritagecenter.org/membership-donations.php