Donald Kirk Horton

Donald Kirk Horton, or as everyone called him, “Horton,” grew up in the area, graduating from Calumet High School in 1968, but experienced much more than northern lights in the Keweenaw.

Soon after graduation, Horton joined the Army, and was stationed in Alaska.

Friends and Copper Harbor folks enjoyed following Horton when his talents took him to Hollywood.

He worked in many exciting film projects, including as a regular stand-in for Ron Perlman on the popular series “Beauty and the Beast.”

He also worked with the great Robert De Niro in the thrilling “Guilty by Suspicion.”

He believed and/or joked that his success in Hollywood was due to the fact that he proudly wore a Detroit Tigers ball cap and a rugged mustache.

At the time, Copper Harbor residents took great pride in playing “Spotting Horton,” who was one of our own, shining on the big screen, making us proud.

When someone asked “Did I see Horton in ‘Back to the Beach’ with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello?”, you would reply “Yes, yes, that was Horton.”

After Tinseltown, Horton took his talents on the road, working as a truck driver, crisscrossing the U.S. He always knew the best routes, and had the best stories about getting lost.

For the last few years, Horton was an excellent ambassador for Copper Harbor, whether he was giving directions or telling tales on the porch of the General Store, helping a visitor get gas as the “man-in-the-box,” or lending an ear to an excited tourist talking about their experiences in Copper Harbor.

Horton had a unique laugh. It was deep, warm and had a little hiccup that everyone humorously attempted to mimic. You recognized the snort before seeing the man behind it.

Thank you, Horton, for being a friend as well as being a friend to the community.

Burial will be at the Copper Harbor Cemetery at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 10, 2018.

A memorial potluck will be held at the Copper Harbor Community Center at 1 p.m.

Arrangements are being handled by Ryan Funeral Home in Calumet.