Betty Lynn Graham Porter

Betty Lynn Porter was known as many things to many people. She was a wife, a mother, a loved one, a friend, and someone special. To family and friends who knew her best, Betty will be remembered as a very exceptional person.

Betty was born on April 22, 1949 at Plummer Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. She was the daughter of Vera and Edward. Betty spent her life in the community that she loved, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Betty was raised on 3 Montgomery Ave with three siblings. She had an older sister Pat, an older brother Bruce and a younger sister Nancy. Betty was usually involved in all sorts of activities with her siblings that taught her many great things, but best of all she shared many life experiences over the years with her family that she loved deeply.

As a young girl, Betty was an active child who took part in dance and playing goalie for her brother every winter inevitably ending up with a black eye.

A typical teenager, Betty had a fairly happy high school experience, making that critical transition from adolescence to adulthood. However, to Betty, the most fun to be had was simply playing and spending time with her friends. In the late 1960s, still a teenager; she was dragged reluctantly on a blind date. Little did she know that this baby-faced boy with dark rimmed glasses would become her partner and best friend for the next 49 years.

On January 11th, 1969 Betty married Clifford George Porter, the union of a strong loving relationship that would not only stand the test of time, but shine and grow into a relationship many would look upon as one to parallel.

Loving and loyal, Betty was committed to making her new family happy.

Soon, the little 2 bedroom house on 83 Melrose Ave became a busy place. Betty worked hard to be the best mother to her children and she did everything in her power to fulfill their needs. Betty was 100% dedicated to her three children, two daughters Lisa and Kerri, and one son Robert.

Moving to Avery Road in 1979, this is where Betty really began laying down her roots. She was most comfortable in her country kitchen splashed with red, raising her three children or in later years on the floor playing with the kids she would babysit or that would visit her. She sure loved kids and related to them in a way that they always felt comfortable. It was easy to see that Betty’s calling on earth was to take care of those in need.

Betty made sure that Holidays were filled with tradition and excitement, right down to baking cookies for Santa and enjoying huge family meals with all the family including, grandmas, aunts/uncles and cousins. Not to mention she gained many more children during holidays with the friends her children would bring home. Her door was always open.

When her kids were grown, Betty gained two more permanent children, a son-in-law Don and a daughter-in-law Brandy. They were 2 of her favorite people because they gave to her, her precious grandchildren; Jayden, Tyson, Cole and Sophie. Betty camped out in San Diego or Hamilton for several weeks surrounding the birth of each grandchild to be sure that she would be one of the first faces that they would see. Friends and family would always hear her bragging about the latest accomplishments of her Little Man, her Sunshine, her Little Prince and her Little Princess.

Always considered a “great” friend to those she knew, Betty enjoyed a broad group of acquaintances and several very close friends during her lifetime. Making many memories with friends such as Joy and Dusty Scott, Janice and Rick Crowle, Gordie and Marnie Taylor, her many curling friends and the ACW ladies. She hosted many dinners and parties in her home for her many close friends and I’m sure there are many people who crave her perogies and cabbage rolls as soon as they turn onto the street.

Betty enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were many, trying all sorts of crafts from macramé potholders to sewing stuffed animals, as well as, cooking fabulous meals and baking beautiful and whimsical cakes. Betty had a strong believe in volunteering for things that meant a lot to her. Examples of this were her efforts in her children’s schools as President of their PTA, her door to door efforts to raise money for Heart & Stroke and of course her treasured ACW. She was most content when she was giving to others. She enjoyed Curling and loved watching Hockey both at the rink and on TV.

Betty enjoyed traveling and time away on vacations. It was a chance for her to renew and relax, to visit new places and experience new things, as well as go back to comfortable surroundings. Favorite vacations included family vacations to Traverse City and Cedar Point when her kids were young and in later years cruising with her husband in the Caribbean and Panama and of course taking all 3 grandsons on vacations to Cedar Point or Kalahari water park with just Cliff to help her out. She really took the extra step to build memories that her grandchildren will cherish forever.

Betty became part of the Christ Church Congregation. Here her faith grew and she established so many friendships. We truly witnessed the importance of Christ Church in her life during the time of her illness. A few of her ACW friends told a story of how they asked Betty to become President of ACW. Her response was “oh you don’t want me – I’m too bossy”. Well her bossiness really seemed to help in getting business done – she would proudly tell of how many pies they cranked out each year and how successful their teas and dinners were. But what she cherished the most was the time spent in the kitchen with her ACW family.

Betty passed away on May 10, 2014 at Sault Area Hospital. Betty fought a short but hard battle against cancer, never ready to give up. She is survived by her husband Cliff, her children Lisa, Kerri and Robert, and her sisters Pat and Nancy. Services were held at her beloved Christ Church. Betty was laid to rest in the Greenwood Cemetery alongside her mother and father.

Simply stated, Betty was a remarkable person, an individual who will for all time be remembered by her family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Betty leaves behind her a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life she touched will always remember Betty Lynn Porter.

* * * * * * * * * *

PORTER, Betty Lynn – It is with great sadness that the family of Betty Lynn Porter announce her passing on Saturday, May 10, 2014. Betty will be forever remembered by her husband and best friend of 45 years Clifford Porter. Loving mother of Lisa Porter (Don Dorey), Kerri Porter and Robert Porter (Brandy). Special grandma of Jayden, Tyson, Cole and Sophie. Daughter of the late Edward and Vera Graham. Sister of Patricia Wright (Mert), Nancy Booth (Stuart) and the late Bruce Graham. Remembered by her nieces and nephews. Betty will be dearly missed by her many close friends and her Christ Church family. Friends may call at Christ Church (585 Allen Side Road) on Thursday, May 15, 2014 from 10:30 am until the time of service at 1 pm. Rev. Rick Reed officiating. Interment Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Christ Church Memorial Fund or the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated. Expressions of sympathy may be offered at www.arthurfuneralhome.com