Shirley Marlene Porter's Obituary
Shirley Porter passed away on August 6, 2023 in Puyallup Washington. She was comfortably consoled during her final days by her sons, sisters, brother and granddaughter.
Shirley Porter was born on October 6, 1936 in Warroad, MN. She was the first child of Benny and Madeline Rasmussen, and later the oldest of 10 children! The family moved to the Seattle area in the early 1940’s, traveling out with all of their belongings in a Model T along with another family. The family soon moved to the Tacoma area where Shirley graduated from Lincoln High School. She met her husband, David R. Porter in Tacoma at the age of 13. Shirley and David married on February 8, 1956 in Yuma, AZ while David was in the Marine Corps.
In August 1959, they welcomed their first son, David R. Porter Jr. and moved to Quincy, WA in 1962, where David and Shirley started the Dave Porter Flying Service. In January 1965, they welcomed their second son, Jonathan M. Porter. During this time, David did the flying and Shirley took care of the books and office work. Fearing the danger of crop-dusting work with two sons, David and Shirley took on a big life change, with David going to the University of Washington Dental school while Shirley took on the job of raising the boys in Quincy while she worked at Quincy Farm Chemicals to support the family.
Upon David graduating from Dental School, the family moved to Wenatchee where they had the dental practice, Shirley again taking care of the office and books for the family practice. The family was heavily involved in the Wenatchee Hockey Program from its inception. Shirley was the chauffeur and even a hockey coach!
Upon David’s untimely passing in 1998, Shirley went on the start Mrs. P’s Bakery in Wenatchee, where her special recipes and baking prowess was on display. It was a dream come true to open the bakery and show the world her gift of baking.
Shirley later married George Roman, living in Wentachee, Fife, Mesa AZ, back to Wentachee. Following the passing of George, Shirley moved to the Puyallup area to be close to her siblings again, spending endless hours enjoying her time with her sisters, playing cards and remembering their youth!
Shirley Porter will be remembered as a loving, dedicated mother (the loudest voice in the stands when her boys played hockey), friend and sister. She loved giving gifts of her pepperkarkarr cookies to all she knew, even the mail man! She loved entertaining friends and family at their home in Wenatchee. Shirley loved to bake, figure skate, attend church, collect dolls and play cards! She had an unwavering love for the gift of her 5 granddaughters whom she cherished to no end!
Shirley Porter is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. David R Porter; and her brothers, Merle and Eugene Rasmussen. She is survived by her sons, David Porter Jr. of Reno Nevada, Jonathan Porter and his wife Kimberly of Redmond, WA. She is also survived by her loving granddaughters, Camille, Marlena, Courtney, Karyn and Cassadey; her sisters Yvonne Manteufel, Joyce Sweet and her husband Donald, Betty Watts, Marilyn Runbeck, Debbie Steen and her husband Mark, and her brother Rick Rasmussen and his wife Mary Beth. She is also survived by many, many cousins, nephews, nieces and loving friends.
Celebration of Life is schedule for Friday, October 6, 2023 at Mountain View Funeral Home, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood, WA 98499 at 2:00 – 4:30pm in the Willow Room located in the Aspen
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