Obituary for Dr. Mahlon D. Horton, Pastor, of the Echo Community

ECHO COMMUNITY…Dr. Mahlon D. Horton, Pastor, a resident of the Echo Community, died at the age of 95, early Thursday morning, July 30, 2026, at Southeast Health Medical Center, Dothan, Alabama. Our heartfelt gratitude to the care team at DW McMillan Hospital in Brewton as well as the care team at Southeast Health Medical Center in Dothan.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., with viewing from 1:00 – 2:00 P.M., Thursday, August 20, 2026, at Ozark, AL 36360. (location of service to be announced) The service will be officiated by his son, Chaplain Gordon Horton, U.S. Coast Guard – ACS. A time of fellowship for all will follow. Burial to be held at the Ewell Baptist Church Cemetery for family members only. Our deepest thanks to John Cawley and Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark for graciously taking charge of the arrangements.

Note: August 20th – 2:00 service you may find the livestream link at the bottom of this page. https://www.fuquabankston.com/obituaries/mahlon-horton

Mahlon Horton was born on July 17, 1931, to the late Dale and Vineta Horton, in his grandparents’ house in Springfield, Oregon. He lived in Fall Creek, Oregon until 1940, when the family moved to Toledo, Oregon. In 1945, Mahlon accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord and was baptized. In 1946, he moved with his family to McMinnville, Oregon. In 1948, he began teaching a Sunday school class of boys in the First Baptist Church in McMinnville. Mahlon also joined the Oregon National Guard in 1948 and served until 1956. In 1949, he graduated from McMinnville High School. He won awards with the Future Farmers of America in the national conference. His Parliamentary FFA debate team won awards.

In 1950-62, Mahlon was in business with his parents and oldest brother; Rainbow Gardens, Inc. They grew potted plants for florist and grocery stores. He ran the delivery van transporting plants to the stores as well as working in the greenhouses.

In 1955, Mahlon married Audrey Nordmo. Through the years ahead, they raised a family of seven children. Their children all give honor and gratitude to their Dad for his faithfulness, dependability and integral part in their lives.

In 1962, Mahlon accepted a position as foreman of Sun Valley Bulb Farm in Myrtle Point, Oregon. Later, when he accepted God’s call to the ministry the owner of this company offered him a new house and a substantial raise if he would remain as foreman of this 35 acre bulb farm.  He turned this offer down to live a life of faith following God’s call.

In 1963, Mahlon Horton moved to California to study for the ministry at Western Baptist College. He trusted God completely to provide work as he made this move with his wife and four children. In later years, he earned his Bachelor of Ministry Degree from Covington Theological Seminary and was bestowed a Doctor’s degree from Carolina Bible College in Concord, NC.

In 1965, Mahlon pastored one of the oldest churches in existence in Oregon, Brownsville Baptist Church. Then, in 1967 Mahlon established the First Baptist Church in Rainier, Oregon. From there he went to Grangeville, Idaho to pastor in 1975. In just a few short months, God called him to become a missionary. He joined Macedonia World Baptist Missions and became their first missionary sent out to a foreign field. His commissioning service was held in Lafayette Baptist Church in Lafayette,Oregon which he had previously helped to establish in 1958.

In 1977, after completing deputation in just one year, Dr. Mahlon Horton began his service in foreign mission fields. He served in Freeport, Bahamas for spring of 1977, then continued on to Haiti 1977-81. After a year of furlough in the United States they moved to Canada serving there for 40 years.

In Canada, he established Faith Baptist Church in Chilliwack British Columbia in 1982, and Berean Baptist Church in Kamloops, British Columbia in 1993. Both of these churches were purchased during Mahlon’s ministry and paid in full when turning them over to another pastor. Both Independent Baptist churches have good pastors and are still holding true to the faith today.

In 1992, Dr. Horton became a Canadian citizen while retaining his U.S. citizenship.  At age of 78, in 2009, he resigned from his final Canadian pastorate. In total, Mahlon was a faithful international church planter for over 50 years. For the last years of his ministry, he served as the Far North Representative for Macedonia World Baptist Missions raising awareness for the need of church planters in the Far North. He challenged men to “Take up the mantle of ministry.”  For several years, the Hortons spent part of the year in Canada and part in Alabama. Dr. Mahlon Horton was in the ministry for sixty years. He retired from Macedonia Missions at the age of 90.

In 2022, Dr. Mahlon Horton and his wife, Audrey, moved full-time to Echo, Alabama where they lived until moving to Brewton, Alabama a few short weeks before his death. He was a faithful member of Grace Baptist Church in Ozark.

In total Dr. Mahlon Horton preached for 62 years, his final sermon in the pulpit being just six weeks before God called him home to heaven.  II Timothy 4:7 is a true testimony of his life,  “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

Dr. Horton was preceded in death by his siblings, Dalton Horton, George Horton, Anita Crafton, and Larry Horton. And also: Son-in-law Matthew Barbier, and grand-daughter Anna Barbier.  Surviving relatives include his wife of over 70 years, Audrey Nordmo Horton; his children, Norman Horton and wife, Roslyn – Echo Al.,  Crystal Barbier – Greenville, S.C., Kenneth Horton and wife, Donna – Fountain Inn, S.C, Phillip Horton and wife, Jill – New Plymouth, ID, Valerie Kuiper and husband, Steven – Brewton, AL., Keith Horton and wife, Ali – Peoria, AZ., and Gordon Horton and wife, Lori – Orrsville, PA.; twenty-eight grandchildren; forty-seven great-grandchildren and three more soon to be born; siblings, Dr. Arlin Horton and wife, Wilma, and Daniel Horton; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Serving as active pallbearers will be Norman Horton, Kenneth Horton, Phillip Horton, Keith Horton, Gordon Horton and Steven Kuiper.

Military funeral honors will be rendered by an Honor Guard at the cemetery in commemoration of Dr. Mahlon Horton’s years of service in the Oregon National Guard.

In lieu of flowers or planting trees, the family invites donations to be given at this link: https://everloved.com/life-of/dr-mahlon-horton/donate/

Dr. Mahlon & Audrey Horton’s whole lives have been committed to spreading the Gospel. In honour of their years of commitment any donations will help to cover remaining medical and burial expenses as well as to help care for Audrey’s needs through times ahead. Audrey desires to carry on their lifetime legacy of service for the Lord to the best of her capabilities.

You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com