Morton Freer Dorothy III, 69, of Mount Vernon passed away on Friday, June 16, at his residence in Mount Vernon.He was born on April 2, 1948, in Mount Vernon to parents Morton Freer Dorothy Jr. and Lou Ann (Grant) Dorothy. He married Claudia Minor on Aug. 8, 1981, in Mount Vernon.

Morton worked as an attorney in a private practice and served on the Illinois Pollution Control Board, penning many of the state's environmental regulations. He was an honorary merit scholar for his high academic achievements while at Mount Vernon High School. Morton was awarded the Champaign County Bar Association Pro Bono Award and was a self-proclaimed advocate for hopeless causes, doing whatever he could to always help people in need.

He had a great work ethic and endlessly kept himself busy, which is evident through his many hobbies and interests. He was a renaissance man and amateur carpenter, historian, genealogist and naturalist.