FRANKFORT - Julia Ruth (Morton) Gustafson, age 58, passed away on Monday, April 18, 2016, at Bradford Square in Frankfort, KY. She was formerly of Lawrenceburg, KY. Julia was the daughter of the late Jack and Pat Morton of Bristol, TN, and was born on September 25, 1957, at the Bristol Memorial Hospital in Bristol, TN.

Julia attended Bristol Tennessee High School and went on to attend the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) where she received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and was also a 4-year member of the Pride of the Southland Marching Band where she was first chair trumpet. The Tennessee Volunteer orange blood ran through her heart and veins.

Julia went on to receive a Masters in Counseling from Western Kentucky University. She was the Regional Site Manager for the US Army's Job Assistance Center (JAC) from 1990 - 1996 at Fort Knox, KY. She went on to manage the Kentucky One Stop Workforce Development office in Frankfort, KY, from 1996 - 2000.

Julia enjoyed being involved with her daughter Katie's life and was an assistant Girl's Soccer Coach at the Anderson (County) Middle School in Lawrenceburg, KY. She was a 2-term President of the Anderson Independent Youth Soccer Association (AIYSA) as well as a soccer coach in Lawrenceburg, KY. She was a Girl Scout Troop Leader for several years. For approximately 5 years she was a substitute teacher in the Anderson County school system where she was truly loved by many of the kids. She had a distinct way of reaching out and connecting with them. Many, many of them still have fond memories of her to this day.

Over the years Julia provided a home, love, care, food, and comfort to many of God's smaller creatures, namely cats and dogs. These little furry creatures were near and dear to her heart and soul. God now has a new caretaker for his cat population.

Survivors include her daughter, Laura (Katie) Gustafson of Frankfort, KY, her sister, Jane Morton of Bristol, TN, her brother John Morton and wife Whitney of Kingsport, TN, her 2 aunts, Wanda Frazier of Blountville, TN, and Betty Jo Morton of Bristol, TN, several uncles, nieces, nephews, and her former husband, Mike Gustafson of Frankfort, KY. Julia is also survived by several of her beloved cats.

Julia was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Pat Morton of Bristol, TN, brother, Thomas Edward (Tom Ed) Morton of Bristol, TN, maternal grandparents, Faye and John Arthur Feathers of Elizabethton, TN, her paternal grandparents, Avery and Carmack Morton of Bristol, TN, and 2 uncles, Sam Frazier of Blountville, TN, and Ted Morton of Bristol, TN.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2016, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Ritchie & Peach Funeral Home, located at 701 North Main Street, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342.

A Celebration of Life service will also be held on Sunday, May 1, 2016, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the home of John and Whitney Morton at 4713 Grassland Court, in Kingsport, TN.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Julia may be made to the Hope Spay Neuter Clinic, 378 Crossfield Drive, P.O. Box 23, Versailles, KY 40383.

Ritchie & Peach Funeral Home of Lawrenceburg is in charge of arrangements.