The Rev. David H. LaMotte

WORTON – The Rev. David Hyde LaMotte, 75, of Worton, died suddenly of complications from leukemia June 24, 2006 in Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore. Born in Baltimore, he was the son of the late Frank L. and Florence Bardeen LaMotte. He was the husband of Elizabeth Collins LaMotte. Mr. LaMotte was preceded in death by a brother, Frank L. LaMotte Jr., of Baltimore. He graduated from St. Paul’s School, Baltimore, and attended the University of Virginia for four years before beginning active military service during the Korean War. Mr. LaMotte served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954, achieving the rank of second lieutenant. After he was discharged from the military, he worked for the family business, LaMotte Chemical, first in Towson and then in Chestertown when the company relocated. In 1962, Mr. LaMotte began a three-year study at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria. He was ordained a minister in 1965, with his first assignment serving the Episcopal parishes in Massey (St. Clements) and Millington (Holy Cross Chapel). In 1967, he became the rector at St. John’s in Portsmouth, Va. Mr. LaMotte returned to Kent County in 1981 as rector of Old St. Paul’s Church, near Chestertown. He retired in 1992, but continued to hold services as a "supply priest" at the Episcopal churches in the diocese. Mr. LaMotte was a member of the International Association of Near Death Studies and was an instructor on the subject for the Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning. His interests included organic gardening, birding, kayaking and sailing. In addition to his wife of 54 years, Mr. LaMotte is survived by two sons, David Hyde LaMotte Jr. and his wife, Deirdre, and Richard Harrison LaMotte and his wife, Nancy, all of Chestertown; a daughter, Susan LaMotte Bohaker and her husband, Bert, of Easton; a sister, Eleanor LaMotte Trippe of Easton; a brother, Charles V.B. LaMotte of Ponte Vedra, Fla; five grandchildren, Francis Worthington LaMotte, Anne Bennett LaMotte, Gibbs Collins LaMotte, Michelle Elizabeth LaMotte and Gregory Robert LaMotte; and two stepgrandchildren, Elizabeth Gere Bohaker and Christopher Whittington Bohaker. Memorial service will be held 11 a.m., June 29 (today), in Shrewsbury Parish Episcopal Church, Kennedyville. The Rev. Tom Hughes and the Right Rev. James Shand will officiate. Interment will be held privately at Christ Church I.U., Worton. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to: a church of your choice; Christ Church I.U. Cemetery, P.O. Box 161, Worton, MD 21678; or International Association of Near Death Studies, P.O. Box 502, East Windsor Hill, CT, 06028.