David Hoyt Gorton

ARDMORE, Okla. – David Hoyt Gorton was born in Saint Albans, Vt. on Aug. 1, 1957. He went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, at 67 years of age following complications with pneumonia.

He was the son of Hugh W. Gorton and Lois G. Cherry Gorton. The family moved to Augusta when Dave was 4 years old. He attended Cony High School in Augusta, graduated in 1975, and then obtained a bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams College in Rhode Island in 1979. He also spent one year in London to continue his education. Dave met his wife, Donna in 1982 and they were married in 1983.

Dave was very involved in China Baptist Camps in Maine as a camper, then as a counselor, camp pastor, and coordinator. He was always known as “Big Dave!”. He always would say, “As long as I have breath within me, I will serve the Lord.” He assisted Pastor Russell Smith at the Centre Vassalboro Baptist Church and then accepted the calling as full-time pastor at the North Vassalboro Baptist Church from 1986 to 1992. His next calling was from 1992 to 2012 at the North Windsor Baptist Church. He started a Home Church Fellowship in Maine for five years. His final calling was in 2022 to help in any way he could at the Maranatha Free Will Baptist Church in Ardmore, Okla.

Dave’s hobbies and activities through the years were studying God’s Word, camping, fishing, hiking, putting together WWII Italian Army model ships, cannons, tanks, and trucks.

He was a very loving and devoted husband to Donna Lutz Gorton for 41 years.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother.

He is survived by his wife, Donna; sister, Cherry Gorton of Massachusetts, brother, Grant John Gorton and his wife Kathleen of Vermont, and brother, Burton Gorton and his wife Jeanne of New York. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Robert Lutz and wife Diane of Maine; several nieces, nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews.

The family would like to invite you to a Celebration of Life service on Saturday, March 8, at Maranatha Free Will Baptist Church, 1906 Myall Rd., Ardmore, Okla. at 10 a.m. Services will be officiated by Pastor Steven Shotzman and Pastor Leroy Holman. A second Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, Oct. 4 at China Baptist Church in Maine with Pasto Ron Morrell officiating the service at 10 a.m. Burial will be at the conclusion of the service in Camden.