Grace Porter

Grace Eileen Cassidy Porter was born on the family farm in Robbinsdale, Minnesota on December 30, 1925 and passed away on December 6, 2024 ironically on the 16" anniversary of the passing of her husband John Porter. Grace was a descendent of Irish immigrants that left Ireland initially due to the Great Potato Famine of the 1850s eventually settling in Minnesota.

The Cassidy's made a few land runs when the Oklahoma Territory opened up and were true Sooners. Her parents moved from Minnesota to Oklahoma City when Grace was only 5 years old in order to help other family members with the family properties. Grace attended Our Lady's Catholic School and later Classen High School where she graduated in 1944. Grace worked at Tinker Field during World War II and also attended the University of Oklahoma until meeting John Porter and marrying on July 19, 1947. At this point, she became a homemaker while having four children within 4 years and 10 months. The family later moved to Wichita, Kansas in 1954. While there, not only was she still a homemaker, but she also found time to attend Friends University and complete her undergraduate degree in Education and begin her 32-year elementary school teaching career. She began by teaching her first five years beginning the Fall of 1959 at Magdalen Catholic Elementary and later Minneha Elementary schools both in Wichita. In 1965, the family returned to Oklahoma City where she began a 27-year career teaching 3rd and 4th graders at Madison Elementary in Oklahoma City before retiring in 1992. In addition to making a positive impact on the multitude of students she taught, she also made lifelong friends with the teachers she worked with. Grace was considered a loyal friend to many, as well as someone that could be trusted with a confidence and will be missed not only by her family, but the many people whose life she influenced. Grace had many accomplishments over her lifetime. Somehow, Grace found time to also complete a Masters degree from OCU, become the President of the Delta Kappa Gamma teaching sorority, serve the Board of the Oklahoma Teachers Association, be selected as a delegate to the National Teachers Association Convention and volunteered as a docent to the Cowboy Hall of Fame for 10 years. Additionally, just when they were to become empty nesters, John's brother Bob Porter passed away and they took in and helped raise Bob's twin sons, Robert and Noel Porter. While our Dad was a shooting star, our Mother was the Rock of Gibraltar. Unfortunately, Grace had a trans ischemic attack (TIA) in 2018 which eventually led to her having to give up driving. Because of this, her daughter Kathy Shannon, accepted the responsibility of caring for her for the last 5 years. Although a labor of love, the family can never express how profoundly grateful we are for Kathy's tireless and loving care of our Mother. Grace was a devout Catholic and a member of Christ the King parish and later Epiphany of the Lord parish.

 Grace is the last member of her immediate family and preceded in death by her parents Terrence (Ted) Cassidy and Ellen Hunt Cassidy; husband, John W. Porter in 2008; siblings; Terrence Patrick (TP) Cassidy; Irene Cassidy Gust (Don); Catherine Cassidy Byler (Jack); Hugh Cassidy; Robert Cassidy (Lee); daughter, Ellen Porter Kelley; granddaughter, Ellen (Ellie) Porter. She is survived by daughter Kathy Shannon; son, John (Jack) Porter; son, Patrick Porter (Holly); 15 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren, which is her greatest legacy.

 A Wake service will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday December 12* at Smith Kernke at 14624 N. May Ave. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. on Friday December 13th at Epiphany of the Lord at 7336 W. Britton Rd.