Andrew David Morton

Andrew David Morton, 53, passed away on January 18th, 2024, at LMH Health after an annoying and inconvenient battle with colon cancer. His cat Miso survives of the home and will inherit his extensive hospital drinking cup collection.

Andy was born to Gary and Jeanine Morton on December 27th, 1970, in Maisieres, Belgium and would often remind people of this fact. The Morton family returned to the US after military obligations were complete, and Andy was forced to endure the addition of two younger siblings. After brief stints in Leavenworth and Independence, Missouri, the family settled in Lawrence. There, Andy would live the rest of his extremely full and busy life, crafting a larger-than-life persona that seemed invincible, and where people would eventually refer to him as a “legend” and “icon”.

Andy was a talented writer and would have been the perfect person to craft a thrilling and hilarious obituary for himself.  Sadly, he was also a procrastinator, so here we are. Andy had an extensive and ever-expanding circle of dear and diverse friends from his wild and varied pursuits, including writer, actor, game show host, pop culture historian, rock star, standup comedian, and playwright.

Andy completed the townie educational hustle, attending Sunset Hill Elementary, West Junior High, Lawrence High School (class of 1989) and the University of Kansas where he received a bachelor’s degree in English. It was here that he would develop a love of trivia, comedy, and eye rolls that would serve him throughout his life.

Andy received his first guitar as a young teen and immediately started his first of many bands. Weeks later he would learn his first guitar chords. In his teens & early twenties he became a talented guitarist and songwriter, founding the popular local band Danger Bob, where he became known by one of his many monikers, Andy Bob. Danger Bob played extensively throughout the Midwest, creating music that was witty, catchy, and often irreverent. You know, just like Andy. Their music has endured, culminating in a raucous pair of reunion shows more than 20 years after they played their first shows in Lawrence.

Andy’s humor and good nature were endearing to the point of exhaustion for his siblings. Andy couldn’t walk down the street in Lawrence without meeting a friend and chatting endlessly, and since he kept friends for life, his mind was a deep encyclopedia of the rich connections he made throughout his life.  To have Andy in your life was to share him with the community, while also feeling like a part of his community.

Andy founded Smackdown Trivia, a local live trivia game that endured for nearly 24 years. He wrote and presented literally thousands of trivia questions over those years, creating a weekly touchstone for friends on Sunday nights to help distract them from their pre-Monday malaise. He also hosted 1 On 1 Trivia on the local television station, Channel 6, and was generous in donating his trivia skills to various nonprofits and the annual fundraiser for the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Andy was a passionate fan of Disney and themed entertainment, often to the frustration of his trivia contestants. He took regular trips to Walt Disney World, and once worked as part of the Disney College Program. Andy’s love of what he called the “simulated culture” of EPCOT was where he developed a fascination with the country of Norway.

Andy’s exploits were endless. He was always putting something whimsical together that would unite people and help bring light and humor to the world. As a lover of games, he was one of the core group members who created The Hunt, a Lawrence-based scavenger hunt in the style of the old KLZR annual scavenger hunts from his childhood. He was a lead writer on The Victor Continental and Loaded for Bear comedy shows, as well as being a key contributor to Card Table Theatre’s Under the Table series.  He was a contestant on the VH1 game show, The World Series of Pop Culture, and performed stand-up comedy in New York City. He listened to podcasts before they were cool. He lived for absurdities and pointless exploits. He donated time to local organizations and was an officer and president of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie #309. He had deep and valuable knowledge of the history of defunct Lawrence businesses and eateries and could look at a building and name every restaurant it held from the 1970s until present day. He was the first person you would call if you had a question about Lawrence history, unless there was some deep, and important meaning behind it.

If you were friends with Andy, you were friends for life.  His light-hearted nature and sharp wit masked a deep warmth and dedication to those close to him, which was nearly everybody.  His friends ranged across all spectrums of society, and he never chose friends because of what they could do for him.

He is survived by his parents, Gary (Kay) Morton of Brooksville, Florida, Jeanine Morton (John English) of Lawrence, Kansas, two siblings, Eric (Leigh) Morton of Windermere, Florida, and Hilary Morton of Kansas City, Missouri. Three step-brothers, Richard (Jackie) Carlton of Brooksville, Florida, Mark (Beth) Carlton of Nokesville, Virginia, and Thomas (Stephanie) Cloud of Fort Worth, Texas. Nieces and nephews: Dr. David (Sarah) Carlton of Chesapeake, Virginia, Shanley Carlton of Detroit, Michigan, Shannon (Christian) Korta of San Antonio, Texas, Kevin (Savannah) Carlton of Lafayette, Indiana, Kallie Carlton of Tampa, Florida, Tristen Cloud and Mackenzie Cloud, both of Fort Worth, Texas. He also leaves behind friends that were considered family, Shelley O’Brien of Merriam, KS and Steve and Roxann Graber of Baldwin City, Kansas.

He was predeceased by his grandparents (Claude and Marjorie Morton, Leonard and Wava Ninemires), his aunt and uncle (Mary Lee and Ferrel “Butch” Kelly) and stepmother, Leauna Morton. Services are pending, and the family will post arrangements soon. Please do something that Andy would appreciate. Go to EPCOT, find Norway, and throw a coin in the fountain. Come up with a zany idea, get people to shrug and say, “Why not?” and make it happen. Give someone a hug that lasts a little too long. Force people to understand the brilliance of Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park . Play a round of miniature golf at Cool Crest. Make someone feel like they are the most important person in the world. Embrace the Oxford Comma.

There will be a celebration of Andy Morton’s life on Saturday, February 17th at 7:00 PM at Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS 66044.