Elaine Morton Dickensheets

Elaine Morton Dickensheets died on July 2, 2022, in Jackson, TN at the age of 90. She was born on August 21, 1931, in Union City, NJ, the daughter of Captain Harry and Agnes Kaste Morton of Peekskill, NY. Harry was a ferryboat captain in NY Harbor and Agnes was a linguist and long-time employee of Readers Digest.
While in high school Elaine worked at a roller-skating rink where she developed skill and a lifetime interest in skating. After graduation, she was an assistant credit manager for Montgomery Ward and later managed a local export business. In 1956, she went to work for Pitney Bowes in New York City, and later joined the International General Electric Company (IGE). While living in Manhattan, Elaine continued her education, attending Hunter College, the Arts Students League, and the Fashion Institute of Technology (NYU), which enhanced her lifelong interest in clothing design. She made much of her clothing as well as designing and making clothes for others.
At IGE she met and subsequently married Robert Joseph Dickensheets in 1961, and they moved to an apartment overlooking the Hudson River. They later moved to Putnam Valley, NY, where they purchased a 250-year-old home, the oldest in Putnam County, and where their first son, Hans, was born. In Putnam Valley, Elaine was instrumental in founding a pre-school, expanding the local library, and was active in the League of Women Voters.
Moving often with her husband to new assignments, Elaine lived in 15 different homes, in cities including Hartford, Indianapolis, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Jackson, TN, and Geneva, Switzerland. Her daughter, Kristen, was born in New York and her second son, Karl, was born in Geneva. Over 40 years of moving her family, sometimes after less than a nine month stay, Elaine excelled at supporting her husband, keeping the family happy and seeing to the education and wellbeing of her children.
Her interests have largely been family related, most recently her devotion to her five grandchildren. Elaine enjoyed foreign travel, international cruises with Robert and their friends, and her participation in several social groups. She was an excellent bowler and card player, but most of all enjoyed entertaining in her home. For nearly a decade, she hosted a Christmas Sing-Along sponsored by the New Jacksonians. Elaine had an extensive network of friends in Jackson and often enjoyed dominos, mahjong, her lunch bunch and dining out.
Other than her husband, Elaine was preceded in death by two brothers, Harry Malcom Morton (Jean) and William Morton VIII (Marlene). She is survived by her three children, Hans Dickensheets (Kathy) of Pittsburgh, PA, Kristen Barber (Joel) of Nashville, TN, and Karl H. Dickensheets of Nederland, CO; five grandchildren, Elizabeth Keisling (Edd), Karl W. Dickensheets (Sara), Robert Barber, Samantha Downs (Chris), and Shaiyah Weissman; cousins, Lewis Kingsley and Mavis Kingsley Saviano and their sons; nieces, Thalassa Naylor, Ciel Senechal, Tierra Lalk, Kandis Swan, and a nephew, William Morton, IX.
SERVICES: A memorial service will be held 2:00PM Monday, July 11, 2022 in the chapel of Arrington Funeral Directors. The family will receive friends from 1:00PM-2:00PM prior to the service. There will be a private family burial.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Carl Perkins Foundation at P.O. Box 447, Jackson, TN 38302 or online at https://www.carlperkinscenter.org/you-can-help/donate/donate-now and the World Food Program at 1725 Eye Street NW, Suite 510, Washington, DC 20006 or online at https://secure.wfpusa.org/donate/south-sudan-homepage?ms=SouthSudan_WEB_HOME .

Arrington Funeral Directors 148 W. University Parkway Jackson, TN 38305
731-668-1111 www.arringtonfuneralgroup.com