Obituary for Mary Lois Porter
Mary Lois Porter, 98, died peacefully on May 19, 2022, at Tamarack Assisted Living. She was born on December 11, 1923, in Lamport, Colorado, the daughter of Daniel Willard Babcock and Amy Jane (Garvie) Babcock.
Lois grew up during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. After graduating high school in Canyon City, Colorado she traveled to Southern California to work as a telephone operator. A few years later she returned to Colorado where she met her husband John Henry Porter at Fort Collins, at a GI Dance. They had lots of adventures and married on June 19, 1945, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. John was a true American cowboy, rancher, and foreman traveling and managing ranches in Montana, Idaho, and California; Lois tagged along cooking for the man she loved and the other ranch hands. After settling in Merced, California Mary worked for Farmers Insurance and held several jobs to help support her growing family. Her first son John Morris Porter was born in Dillon, Montana. A few years later she added to her family when Gerald Clinton “Jerry” Porter was born in Merced, California. After their sons left home John and Lois moved to Piedra California up in the hills where she worked as a cook for the Division of Forestry. They moved several more times before settling in Atwater, California where John and Lois retired from the ranching business. John and Lois spent many years enjoying their grandchildren. After 49 years of marriage, John died in January 1995.
In May of 1996, Lois moved to Portales, New Mexico to live near her son Jerry, his wife Marjorie, and their four kids. After not even having the final boxes unpacked Lois joined her son Jerry and daughter-in-law Marjorie as they made the move to Altus, Oklahoma.
Lois’s time in Altus was spent with the JCMH Volunteers where she assisted people at the front information desk. She loved helping people and interacting with patients and families. She volunteered for 10 years before hanging up her pink coat and taking up residence at Tamarack Assisted Living Center. Lois spent many hours playing tough and aggressive games of bingo and horse racing. Even her grandkids knew that visiting and calling during bingo was not recommended and would usually end in a very short abrupt conversation. Lois was an active member of First Baptist Church where she attended Sunday School and worshiped with her friends and family.
After a short stay at JCMH, Lois was transferred back to Tamarack where she died peacefully surrounded by family.
She leaves behind two sons John and Jerry; Jerry’s wife Marjorie, 6 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at the First Baptist Church of Altus.
Services have been entrusted to Lowell - Tims Funeral Home and Crematory, Altus, Oklahoma.
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Lois grew up during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. After graduating high school in Canyon City, Colorado she traveled to Southern California to work as a telephone operator. A few years later she returned to Colorado where she met her husband John Henry Porter at Fort Collins, at a GI Dance. They had lots of adventures and married on June 19, 1945, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. John was a true American cowboy, rancher, and foreman traveling and managing ranches in Montana, Idaho, and California; Lois tagged along cooking for the man she loved and the other ranch hands. After settling in Merced, California Mary worked for Farmers Insurance and held several jobs to help support her growing family. Her first son John Morris Porter was born in Dillon, Montana. A few years later she added to her family when Gerald Clinton “Jerry” Porter was born in Merced, California. After their sons left home John and Lois moved to Piedra California up in the hills where she worked as a cook for the Division of Forestry. They moved several more times before settling in Atwater, California where John and Lois retired from the ranching business. John and Lois spent many years enjoying their grandchildren. After 49 years of marriage, John died in January 1995.
In May of 1996, Lois moved to Portales, New Mexico to live near her son Jerry, his wife Marjorie, and their four kids. After not even having the final boxes unpacked Lois joined her son Jerry and daughter-in-law Marjorie as they made the move to Altus, Oklahoma.
Lois’s time in Altus was spent with the JCMH Volunteers where she assisted people at the front information desk. She loved helping people and interacting with patients and families. She volunteered for 10 years before hanging up her pink coat and taking up residence at Tamarack Assisted Living Center. Lois spent many hours playing tough and aggressive games of bingo and horse racing. Even her grandkids knew that visiting and calling during bingo was not recommended and would usually end in a very short abrupt conversation. Lois was an active member of First Baptist Church where she attended Sunday School and worshiped with her friends and family.
After a short stay at JCMH, Lois was transferred back to Tamarack where she died peacefully surrounded by family.
She leaves behind two sons John and Jerry; Jerry’s wife Marjorie, 6 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at the First Baptist Church of Altus.
Services have been entrusted to Lowell - Tims Funeral Home and Crematory, Altus, Oklahoma.
To send flowers in memory of Mary Lois Porter, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Memorial
Tuesday
24
May
10:00 AM
Altus First Baptist Church
Altus, Oklahoma
Altus, OK 73521
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