Corin Lee Hawse

Corin Lee Morton, 53, passed away on March 12, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer in Killdeer, North Dakota, surrounded by the life she built and the people she loved.

Born on July 21, 1972, in Riverside, California, Corin spent her early years in the warmth of Southern California before her family relocated to Chewelah, Washington, when she was fourteen so her father could receive the care he needed. She remained in Washington into adulthood before eventually making her way to North Dakota, living first in Grenora for about ten years before settling in Killdeer, where she spent the last six years of her life.

Corin was a gifted swimmer in her youth and held records in Washington state. She had a gift for growing things and could often be found in her garden or in the kitchen, baking and cooking for anyone lucky enough to be nearby. She loved puzzles, video games, giraffes, and most of all, her grandchildren.

But what people will remember most about Corin is her heart. She was a mother hen in the truest sense and one of the most loving and nurturing souls you could ever meet. She loved her people fiercely and would do absolutely anything for the ones she called family. And do not let that gentle heart fool you. If you crossed one of her people, she was the first one ready to set things straight. That was her way of protecting the ones she loved most.

She raised her four children, Rick, Eden, Abigail, and Amillia, with that same fierce devotion. She also had an extraordinary gift for making people feel like family whether or not they shared her blood. Megan Turner and many others called her Mom, and she received that name like the honor it was.

She is survived by her children Rick McMurtry, Eden McMurtry, Abigail Morton, and Amillia Morton; her grandchildren Rick McMurtry III, Savvy McMurtry, Gunner McMurtry, Corin Lee McMurtry, Baylee Jo McMurtry, Evelyn Ordaz, Ezra Ordaz, and Nova Cummings; and her mother, Heidi Hawes of Chewelah, Washington.

She was preceded in death by her father, Lloyd Hawes, whose motorcycle shop and love of life left a mark on everyone who knew him.

A gathering to celebrate Corin's life will be held in the coming weeks at the Buckskin in Killdeer for those in the local community. A memorial service for close family and friends will follow this summer. Details will be announced.

The world feels a little quieter today without her, but the love she poured into all of us will carry on forever. Heaven gained a strong one.