Betty Ethel Porter

BETTY ETHEL PORTER Betty Ethel Porter passed away at Vista Grande Inn on Thursday, November 2, 2017. She was 95 years of age. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Lucy Kelley; her siblings, Luther Kelley, Pete Kelley, Jewell Fenter, Mary Roberts, Gene Masters, and Pauline Hare; her husband, Charlie Porter; and her children, Emily Rose and Janie Louise. She is lovingly remembered by her four children, James Porter (Dorothy) of Cortez, Elaine Hart (Dean) of Los Lunas, N.M., Toad Porter (Landis) of Mesa, Ariz., and Nate Porter (Giselle) of Lewis; and by her 10 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Betty was born on March 16, 1922 in Goree, Tex. She lived on the farm and picked cotton for her father. She attended Throckmorton High School in Throckmorton, Tex. and she graduated in 1940. Betty came to Colorado to work at Kermodes Dairy by the old high school. She met her husband, Charlie Porter at a Battlerock dance and they were married on December 31, 1941 in Aztec, N.M. Betty and her husband moved to the Porters cove where she planted peach trees, tended the cows, and worked the farm. In 1949, they moved to the Battlerock farm they purchased. In the summertime, they ran cattle in the Rio Lado Mountains. They lived in a tent for several years and the last year her husband built a cabin. She went to work for the RE-1 School District driving bus and working in the cafeteria. She eventually worked as a teachers aide and bus driver for the Battlerock School. Betty sold the farm and moved to Cortez on Rolling Hills Road with her daughter, Janie. During this time, she was a pillar of the community and spent her time delivering meals on wheels. Eventually, they decided to move to a smaller place south of town. For 17 years, she travelled to her Apache Junction, Ariz. home in the winter. Betty loved to farm and grow beautiful gardens. She loved spending time at Aunt Verna Dells cabin with her family. She enjoyed hiking up Casey Pasture and Oak Draw near the Battlerock farm. She touched the lives of all that knew her with her kindness and sense of humor. She was baptized and a member of the Church of Christ. She will be dearly missed by her friends and family.