Martha Jo Porter

Martha Jo Porter, age 92, passed away December 8, 2020. She was born May 3, 1928, to Albert and Jane Porter. She grew up in the Country Club Plaza district where her father was a pharmacist. During the summer she visited family in Carthage, Missouri. She graduated Westport High School after winning several art design awards, and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of New Mexico. She was a civilian Army secretary in Iceland and Germany during reconstruction, traveling throughout Europe. She was proud of her career as a legal secretary for the Federal Highway Administration where she retired with 44 years of service.

Martha resided in Memory Care at Brookdale Overland Park for several years. While there her watercolor was selected for award by the Alzheimer’s foundation. She was honored by this and enjoyed her special recognition with fellow FHWA retirees. Recently Martha resided at Village Shalom Memory Care in Overland Park. Her family and friends appreciate the extraordinary care and compassion given by the Village Shalom staff. Martha will be missed most by her friends, Kathy and Nicole Facer, who considered Martha to be family. We were happy she was part of our lives. She was predeceased by her parents and sister, Betty Kirby. She is survived by nephew, Don Kirby, his wife Terry, their sons Ryan and Sean; and niece, Sharon and her daughters, Pamela and Michelle. A graveside service at Forest Hills Cemetery in Kansas City, MO, is planned in the future.