Cleo R Porter

Funeral Services for Cleo R. Porter will be conducted from the First Christian Church in Alma, Nebraska on Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Larry Doubet, officiating. Following the traditional funeral, cremation will take place and inurnment will be held at a later date in the Alma Cemetery.

Cleo Ruth Porter, 90 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska (formerly of Alma, Nebraska) passed away after a brief illness on Monday, December 20, 2010 at Phelps Memorial Health Care in Holdrege. She was born on June 18, 1920 in Stamford, Nebraska, the second of three children born to Halley Beryl and Rosa Mae (Hedendorp) Pollett. She grew up in the Stamford area, where she received her primary education and then moved to Alma, where she graduated from Alma High School with the class of 1937.

Following her education, she taught in rural schools for a few years. She was united in marriage to Mearl Porter and to this union five children were born: Dianna, Jay, Alan, Craig and Carmen. The couple made their home in Alma. During the time Mearl served his country in the military, Cleo taught another two years in the Alma school system.

Cleo and her husband, Mearl enjoyed raising their children and attending all their athletic events at Alma High School. Following Mearl's death in 1992, Cleo remained active attending athletic functions as long as her health allowed her. Cleo loved volleyball and became a special fan of the Alma volleyball team and one year was presented with an award from the team. She was an avid golfer and loved to play cards and work crossword puzzles.

Cleo worked at various jobs during her married life, the last being at Becton-Dickinson in Holdrege, where she was employed until her retirement in 1985.

Throughout the years, she was active in the Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority, enjoyed Women's Card Club and the BD Alumni. She was a lifelong member of the First Christian Church, in Stamford and later in Alma.

Besides her parents, and husband, Mearl, she was preceded in death by two sisters and their husbands and son-in-law, Carol Isaacson.

She leaves to mourn her passing her five children: Dianna Isaacson of Holdrege, Jay Porter and his wife, Cheryl of Omaha, Nebraska, Alan Porter and his wife, Ella of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Craig Porter and his wife, Gail of Mesa, Arizona, Carmen Roy and her husband, Mike of Holiday, Texas; 17 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in her memory and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home of Holdrege is in charge of arrangements.