Maurice Pitt "Pete" Horton Jr., 77, of Cedarville, served in the U.S. Air Force for 26 years, and later managed the Chippewa County Fair for 20 years. Mr. Horton died Thursday, March 27, 2008, at Hospice House in Cheboygan.

He was born July 11, 1930, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Maurice Pitt Horton Sr. and Jessie (nee Lee) Horton.

Mr. Horton was graduated from high school in Henderson, New York, and attended forestry school in Wanakena, New York, for two years. He then joined the United States Air Force in 1951. After retiring in 1977, he worked for Kinross Charter Township as a tax assessor for 10 years and was the manager of the Chippewa County Fair. His last years were spent in Cedarville in the summer and Raymondville, Texas, in the winter.

Mr. Horton loved the outdoors, camping, fishing, and hunting in his younger years, and playing golf and riding snowmobiles after his retirement. An avid birdwatcher, he also enjoyed woodworking,

painting on wood, and making many Christmas ornaments for his children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Mr. Horton is survived by one son and his family, Maurice Pitt and Melissa Horton III of Lancaster, Ohio; two daughters and their families, Rebecca Sue and Bruce Fleury of Hendersen, New York, and Sandra Lee and Steven Hovland of Maricopa, Arizona, and six grandchildren, Lena May Piippo, Jessie Lee Piippo, Eric Peter Horton, Maria Lindiwe Horton, Jake Roderick Fleury, and Lauren Rebecca Hovland. Also surviving are his mother, Jessie Lee Horton of Henderson, two sisters, Ann Lyons of Orient, Maine, and Tish Gregory of Henderson, and two brothers and their families, James and Joan Horton of Southport, North Carolina, and Harold Horton of Henderson. Mr. Horton is also survived by two stepchildren and their families, Keith and Jennifer Leach of Stedman, North Carolina, and Tami and Steve Autore of Cedarville, and four step-grandchildren, Daniel Steven Autore, Anthony Richard Autore, Wade Charles Autore, and Whitney Cierra Autore.

Mr. Horton was preceded in death by his wife, Easter Horton; his father, Maurice Pitt Horton Sr., and an infant brother, Robert Ashley Horton.

A memorial service will be held in Michigan June 21; the time will be announced later.

Memorials may be sent to the Choir Fund, First United Methodist Church Lyford, P.O. Box Drawer H, Lyford, Texas 78569 or to the Chippewa County Fairgrounds, Kinross Charter Township, P.O. Box 175, Kinross, Michigan 49752.

Reamer Galer Funeral Home of Pickford assisted the family with arrangements.