Catherine "Kitty" Porter

Kitty grew up in Berwyn Heights, Maryland and was the third of eight children. She wanted to help out in the war effort and built radios during World War II. Afterward, she worked in retail in downtown D.C. Kitty married Louis Dalton Porter on July 12, 1945 and after her daughter was born, she became a stay-at-home mother and was very involved in PTA and Girl Scouts.

Kitty and her family loved Ocean City, Maryland and drives along Skyline Drive, which is a scenic road in the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia. She also loved to visit historical sites around Maryland and Virginia. Kitty loved to paint, garden, play bingo, sing, read, and was a published poet. She enjoyed throwing holiday parties for the neighborhood children, where she was known as “Miss Kitty” in Southlawn and Oxon Hill, and was active in the Oxon Hill Homemaker’s Club. Kitty had a great love for politics and was involved in the Oxon Hill (Maryland) Democratic Party. She was known for her love of animals, particularly cats, of which she rescued countless over the years. Kitty was a member of St. Columba Catholic Church in Oxon Hill, Maryland where she sang in the church choir. She attended St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Plano, Texas.

Three years ago, Kitty was attending a benefit for the Dallas Zoo. The special guest was Jack Hanna, the famous American zookeeper. Kitty had watched a rerun of him on David Letterman the night before the benefit. On the way to the party, she asked her daughter Carole if Jack Hanna would remember her, confusing the previous night’s show with a memory. Carole replied, “No, mom, we only saw him on TV.” Carole relayed the story to Jack Hanna privately. When Mr. Hanna was introduced to Kitty, he gamely said, “Oh, I remember you!” much to the delight of Kitty.

Kitty was a very positive person despite many hardships as a child. She was also adventurous, kind to others, never knew a stranger, and witty. She loved all forms of beauty from art to nature. As her daughter, Carole, said, “With Mom, you always knew that you were loved.” Upon moving to Plano ten years ago, she was quick to make friends in her new neighborhood and participated in social activities with her new Texas friends. She also loved luncheons and dinners with teachers she befriended from Schimelpfenig Middle School. She was a lover of life who found joy in each new day. Kitty, as well as her love and guidance to all of us, will be greatly missed by all who loved and knew her.

In addition to her parents, Kitty was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Louis Dalton Porter; and siblings: Mary June Duckett, George Reed, John Chester Reed, Joseph Reed, Mary Alma Cox, Clifford Reed.

She is survived by her daughter, Carole Pommer of Plano, Texas; granddaughter, Kara Petersen Goss and her husband, Randall Goss, of Dallas, Texas; great-granddaughter, Kate Petersen of Dallas, Texas; and many much-loved nieces and nephews and friends.