Merle Natalie Jones Porter, beloved widow of G. Earl Porter, died peacefully at Hartford Hospital on Sunday, December 14, 2008. She was born on June 17, 1923 at St. Joseph Hospital, Willimantic and was a life long resident of Hebron, Connecticut. She married her life long best friend G. Earl Porter, on August 17, 1946 at St. Peter's Church in Hebron and they enjoyed 42 years together before his death in 1988. She was a graduate of Arnold College, New Haven, CT. She was a physical education teacher for almost 30 years teaching at Hawley High School in Newtown, Middletown High School and 23 years at East Hampton High School. She was a talented woman athlete who played first base for the Burham and Brady Girl's Softball Team of Hartford. "Jonesy", as she was known, appeared in games both at Madison Square Garden and Boston Garden. She was a horsewoman who loved to ride and hitch up the buggy, surrey and sleigh and drive her family around the pasture. She was an environmentalist, feminist and a life long liberal. She loved her family, all of her animals (especially her donkeys and goats), strawberries, ice cream, the holidays and birthday celebrations. One of her greatest pleasures was taking her grandchildren on wonderful adventures. She leaves her three daughters, sons-in-law and four grandchildren; Kimberly and Brian Reed of Hebron, Patricia and Vincent Buttice, their sons Ryan and Kyle, of Newport Center, Vermont and Gayle Kataja and her daughters Allyson and Kristen, of Glastonbury and her sister and brother in law, Aceynath and David Porter and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her son-in law Peter Kataja in 2007. A memorial service will be held at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 30 Church Street, Hebron, Connecticut at 11:00 AM, Friday, December 19th followed by burial in the family plot at St. Peter's Cemetery. A reception will follow in Phelps Hall, St. Peter's, at the conclusion of the service. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her memory to the Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Road, Newington, CT, 06111 or to Connecticut Community Care, 43 Enterprise Drive, Bristol, CT, 06010. The Potter Funeral Home, Willimantic assisted with arrangements. Please visit
www.potterfuneralhome.com
for online memorial guest book.