Mary Olive (Stafford) Porter, 94, of Ames, formerly of Hamburg, died Oct. 5, 2009 at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames. She was born Nov. 4, 1914 in Hamburg to Lula Belle (Brown) and George Washington Stafford.
She graduated from Hamburg High School. She married Harry Ellis Porter of Sidney on Jan. 2, 1938 in Lincoln, Neb. The couple lived in Hamburg and she worked in the office of Interstate Nursery.
They moved to Atlantic in 1947. They lived in Ridgeway, Mo., then moved to Elmcrest Retirement Community in Harlan.
The couple enjoyed several winters at Leisure World in Mesa, Ariz. They moved to Ames in 2006 to be near their son.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years; a brother, Ortal O. (Jack) Stafford; and sisters Esther E. Lytle, Helen H. Comstock, and Ruth M. McCall.
She is survived by son and daughter-in-law Max and Monica Porter of Ames; grandson Nathan Porter of Des Moines; and several nieces and nephews, including Terry Stafford of Shenandoah, Barbara (McCall) Andrews of Shenandoah, Marcene Watkins and family and Donald Comstock and family, all of the Des Moines area; and other relatives.
Funeral services were held Oct. 10 at the Sidney Cemetery with Rev. Rick Sleyster officiating. A memorial service was held Oct. 14 at Bickford Cottage in Ames.
Memorials are suggested to the Collegiate Presbyterian Church in Ames.
Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care of Ames was in charge of arrangements.
Ames, Iowa —
