Patricia Anne Porter

PATRICIA ANNE PORTER (86) PASSED AWAY, APRIL 30, 2021, AT THE SPOKANE HOSPICE HOUSE. PATTY WAS BORN IN OAKESDALE, WASHINGTON ON JANUARY 21, 1935 TO THE LATE GEORGE SCHLEY AND SIDONIA (WIEMER) LITTLETON. FOLLOWING THE PROGRESSION OF THE FAMILY’S MOVES FROM FARMING TO CONSTRUCTION JOBS ALL OVER THE NORTHWEST FOR SCHLEY AND SIDONIA ALWAYS TEACHING, PATTY HAD MANY FOND MEMORIES WITH HER PARENTS, OLDER BROTHER DON AND YOUNGER SISTER ARLENE. ON ONE MEMORABLE TRIP BACK FROM A SHOPPING TRIP IN LEWISTON, TO THE LAPWAI CAMP WHERE SCHLEY WAS WORKING CONSTRUCTION AND THE FAMILY WAS LIVING. SIDONIA WAS DRIVING THE NEW 38 PLYMOUTH AND VISITING WITH A LADY PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. WHEN DON INTERRUPTED FROM THE BACK SEAT WITH ‘MOMMA !!”. DON WAS SCOLDED FOR INTERRUPTING THEIR CONVERSATION, AND WHEN SHE WAS THROUGH WITH HER SENTENCE SHE ASKED, “NOW WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT DONNY?” TO WHICH HE REPLIED, “PATTY WENT OUT THE DOOR BACK THERE”. THEY WENT BACK AND PICKED THE TODDLER OFF THE NEW ASPHALT AND TOOK HER BACK TO CAMP WHERE THE TRIBAL LADIES IN LAPWAI HELPED SIDONIA PUT POULTISES ON PATTY’S WOUNDS. SIDONIA (THE SCHOOL TEACHER), FROM THAT DAY ON, ALWAYS STOPPED TO SEE WHAT THE KIDS WERE INTENT ON WHEN THEY SAID “MOMMA!!”.. SCHLEY TOOK THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES OFF THEIR NEW CAR WITH THE SUICIDE DOORS THAT SAME DAY AND THEN WORKED AT THE SCHOOL. THEY ALSO LIVED FOR TWO YEARS IN THE BELSHAW SCHOOL DISTRICT NEAR FARMINGTON, WHERE SIDONIA TAUGHT IN A ONE-ROOM SCHOOL. THE FAMILY LIVED IN A TWO-ROOM HOUSE AND THE THREE KIDS SLEPT IN A BUNK BED IN THEIR PARENTS’ ROOM. THEY ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO THEIR WEEKEND TRIPS BACK TO OAKESDALE AND ROSALIA TO VISIT THEIR GRANDPARENTS. PATTY AND ARLENE WERE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THEY WEREN’T RELATED TO EVERYONE IN OAKESDALE BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE THE WHOLE TOWN WAS THERE AT CITY PARK WHEN THE LITTLETON'S AND HALLS HAD A FAMILY GET-TOGETHER. THE FAMILY PERMANENTLY MOVED TO ROSALIA IN 1943, SIDONIA CONTINUED TO TEACH SCHOOL AT MALDEN TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND SCHLEY WORKED CONSTRUCTION AND DID LABOR IN THE AREA. UP TO THAT TIME, AT THE AGE OF EIGHT, THE ONLY TEACHER PATTY EVER KNEW WAS MOMMA…. AND SHE DID NOT WANT ANYONE ELSE, ESPECIALLY THE LADY THAT SWATTED HER AT SCHOOL. SCHLEY WOULD DROP HER OFF AT SCHOOL EACH DAY AND PATTY WOULD WAVE HIM GOODBYE. AS SOON AS HE ROUNDED THE CORNER, SHE WOULD WALK DOWN TO THE BRIDGE AND SPEND ALL DAY, UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO GO HOME. THE TEACHERS BEGAN ASKING ARLENE IF PATTY WAS SICK? TO WHICH SHE WOULD SAY, “MUST BE SICK”. WHEN MAMA AND DADDY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, DADDY TOOK HER TO SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY AND SWATTED HER IN FRONT OF HER WHOLE CLASS, SHE NEVER MISSED ANOTHER DAY OF SCHOOL. EVERY MAYDAY, PATTY, AND ARLENE WOULD GATHER FLOWERS TO MAKE MAY BASKETS FOR ALL OF THE SHUT-IN LADIES THAT WERE IN ROSALIA. GENERALLY, THE FLOWERS WERE PROCURED FROM THE YARDS OF THESE SHUT-INS. THE LADIES KNEW IT, BUT THEY STILL MADE THE GIRLS FEEL AS THOUGH THEY HAD JUST RECEIVED “ A MOST WONDERFUL AND UNEXPECTED GIFT”. THE SISTERS’ FRIENDSHIP WITH JANICE AND MARGIE WOOD, WHO LIVED JUST ACROSS THE MAIN HIGHWAY WAS VERY CLOSE AND LASTED THEIR ENTIRE LIVES. SIDONIA ALWAYS CAUTIONED THE KIDS TO BE CAREFUL WHEN CROSSING THE MAIN ROAD THROUGH TOWN BETWEEN THE TWO HOMES, SO THE THREE BRAVE GIRLS DECIDED TO CRAWL THROUGH THE CULVERT UNDER THE ROAD, INSTEAD OF CROSSING THE BUSY HIGHWAY ABOVE GROUND. WHEN SCHLEY GOT HOME AND SAW LITTLE ARLENE LOOKING INTO THE CULVERT, HE ASKED HER IF THERE WAS A KITTY IN THERE. TO WHICH SHE RESPONDED, NO KITTY, “BUT PATTY, JANICE, AND MARGIE ARE ALMOST THROUGH!” OTHER ADVENTURES INCLUDE SWIMMING IN THE CITY LAGOON, NOT REALIZING IT WAS NOT A LAKE. ICE SKATING FROM ONE END OF TOWN TO THE OTHER ON THE ROSALIA FLATS WHEN IT FROZE OVER. WARMING UP BY A TOASTY FIRE, OF BURING TIES AND TIRES BY THE RAILROAD TRACKS WAS ALSO A FAVORITE WINTER ACTIVITY. ON A TRAIN RIDE TO THE WOODS' FAMILIES COEUR D’ ALENE LAKE CABIN, THEY HAD AN OVERNIGHT STOP IN SPOKANE AT THE DAVENPORT HOTEL, WHILE THERE THE FOUR GIRLS THREW WATER BALLOONS FROM THE HOTEL WINDOWS TO THE SIDEWALKS BELOW. DURING THEIR SCHOOL YEARS THE GIRLS SPENT MANY WONDERFUL TIMES WITH THE WOOD GIRLS AT THEIR LAKE CABIN AND CRUISING THE WHOLE LAKE IN THEIR CHRIS-CRAFT BOATS. PATTY ENJOYED SPENDING TIME AND VISITING WITH HER MANY, LIFELONG SCHOOL FRIENDS & COUSINS. PATTY MET JOEL PORTER THROUGH HIS COUSINS, JANICE AND MARJIE WOOD WHO LIVED NEXT DOOR. PATTY AND JOEL DATED FOR TWO YEARS. SHE GRADUATED WITH THE ROSALIA CLASS OF 1952. PATTY MARRIED THE LOVE OF HER LIFE, JOEL ON NOVEMBER 2, 1952. JOEL WAS IN THE AIR FORCE, THEY MARRIED AND THEY MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS UNTIL JOEL’S TRANSFER TO GERMANY. AT THAT POINT, PATTY MOVED BACK TO ROSALIA, LIVED WITH HAZEL AND ELMER PORTER, AND WORKED AT THE OLD NATIONAL BANK. THEIR ANNIVERSARY DATE COINCIDED WITH THE OPENING WEEKS OF HUNTING SEASON, WHICH ENDED UP BEING A STANDING JOKE FOR THE NEXT 58 YEARS… JOEL WENT TO HUNTING CAMP IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS WITH HIS BROTHER ROLLY OR JIM STENTZ FOR A FEW WEEKS TO HUNT AND PATTY WENT TO BOWLING TOURNAMENTS IN RENO WITH HER GIRLFRIENDS, OR STARTED A HOME DEMOLITION OR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FOR JOEL TO COMPLETE, WHEN HE GOT HOME FROM HUNTING CAMP. PATTY GAVE JOEL RASPBERRIES OVER HIM LEAVING ON THEIR ANNIVERSARY EVERY YEAR, AND JOEL TRIED TO MAKE UP FOR IT, ALTHOUGH HUNTING, FISHING, AND FARMING WERE THE SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH LOVES OF LIFE FOR JOEL, PATTY WAS HIS NUMBER ONE. PATTY LOVED RAISING HER THREE SONS TRACY, ANDY, AND MATT TO A FAULT. SHE WAS THEIR PLANNER OF ROAD TRIP VACATIONS, THEIR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, SCOUT LEADER, BOWLING COACH, AND TAXI SERVICE TO GUITAR LESSONS AND SPORTING EVENTS. THROUGH THE YEARS SHE WORKED AT THE BANK, TELEPHONE OFFICE, DRY CLEANERS, MANAGED THE CUB DRIVE INN FOR 15 YEARS, AND THEN WORKED AT THE SCHOOL. HER LOVE OF CHILDREN, WAS EVIDENCED BY HER LOVING IN-HOME DAYCARE FOR HER NUMEROUS “ADOPTED “ KIDS FOR 31 YEARS. SHE LOVED ROSALIA AND WAS A GREAT SUPPORTER OF ANYTHING TO DO WITH HELPING THE KIDS, THE TOWN, OR ANYONE IN NEED. SHE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS OF HER LIFE PROCURING FUNDS FOR THE ROSALIA SWIMMING POOL. SHE HAD FAMILY WORK DAYS TO CLEAN UP AT THE EVERGREEN CEMETERY, IN PREPARATION FOR THE ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY WIEMER FAMILY REUNIONS. THE REUNIONS WERE THE HIGHLIGHT OF HER YEAR DURING HER WHOLE LIFE. SHE SO ENJOYED VISITING WITH HER BELOVED RELATIVES THAT WOULD RETURN TO PAY RESPECTS TO OUR FAITHFULLY DEPARTED AND VISIT AT THE HOUSE AND OTHER AREA CEMETERIES. PATTY WAS FUN AND SPUNKY AND WAS A HARD-CORE GOLDEN RULE, CHRISTIAN. RAISING HER BOYS WITH, “TREAT OTHERS LIKE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED”.SHE LIVED HER FAITH THROUGH HER GOOD WORKS, SACRIFICES, AND KINDNESS TO OTHERS. THE WORLD WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER PLACE IF EVERY CHILD ON EARTH COULD HAVE SUCH A WONDERFUL LOVING MOTHER AS PATRICIA. PATTY WAS A LOYAL AND DEDICATED FRIEND TO HER EXTENDED FAMILY, COUSINS, SCHOOLMATES, PLAZA REUNION COUPLES, AND WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR ANYONE IN NEED. DURING THE 1980 MOUNT SAINT HELENS ASH FALLOUT, JOEL AND PATTY HAD A HOUSE FULL OF STRANDED TRAVELERS, WHICH THEY LOVED. DURING THE ROSALIA MOTORCYCLE RALLIES THEY AGAIN HAD A HOUSE AND YARD FULL OF NEW FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO ENJOY. PATTY ENJOYED ALL TYPES OF GAMES, BOWLING, CARDS, CROCHETING, KNITTING, CERAMICS, AND PERFORMING CRAFTING PROJECTS WITH HER DEAR FRIENDS, GRANDKIDS, AND DAYCARE KIDS. PATTY WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HER HUSBAND JOEL PORTER, PARENTS SCHLEY AND SIDONIA LITTLETON, NORM BAILEY, ELMER, HAZEL, ROLLY, GARY, AND ALICE PORTER, ALONG WITH NUMEROUS BELOVED FRIENDS AND RELATIVES THAT SHE IS VISITING NOW. PATTY WAS A WONDERFUL AND LOVING MOTHER, SISTER, AUNT, GRANDMOTHER, GREAT GRANDMOTHER, AND FRIEND. SHE IS SURVIVED BY CHILDREN, TRACY PORTER, ANDY (SALLY) PORTER, MATTHEW (NATASHA) PORTER, AND HER 17 GRANDCHILDREN AND 5 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, MELODY, BREANNA, DEREK,(COOPER), FRITZ, ROBIN, NICHOLAS, SARAH, JULIE, BRETT, (ADLEY), JAKE, MICHAELA, (HARVEY), BETSY, MARY, ERIK, JADE, TAWNY, SAM, (LINDSEY, TRINITY), DON AND JUDY LITTLETON, ARLENE BAILEY, ALONG WITH BELOVED NIECES, NEPHEWS, RELATIVES, AND FRIENDS. SPECIAL HEARTFELT THANKS TO BARBIE HUNTLY, KATIE LITTLETON, SANDY BLANK, JADE PORTER, PAUL JENSEN, AND SPOKANE HOSPICE HOUSE FOR THEIR LOVING SACRIFICES HELPING THE FAMILY IN THE FINAL DAYS. THERE WILL BE A CELEBRATION OF PATTYS' LIFE LATER THIS SUMMER. IN LIEW OF FLOWERS, PATTY REQUESTED THAT ANY MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS WOULD PLEASE GO TO SUPPORT THE ROSALIA IOOF EVERGREEN CEMETERY IN HER HONOR, C/O DAMRON ACCOUNTING SERVICE, BOX 243, ROSALIA, WASHINGTON 99170.

Patricia Anne Porter

January 21, 1935 - April 30, 2021