Mary Esther Porter

Alton: Mary Esther Coffey Porter, 76, of Alton, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed from this life at 7:25pm on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, at Alton Memorial Hospital after a long illness. She was born on April 16, 1938, in Jacksonville, Illinois the daughter of the late Garnet and Dona (Proffitt) Coffey. Her step-father was Cyle Rash. Mary attended schools in Jacksonville, Canton, and St. David, Illinois. She married Kenneth Lee Porter in Canton on October 10, 1959, and they just celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. After spending the last 55 years devoted to each other, they spent their anniversary last Friday together celebrating a lifetime of love. Other survivors include two daughters and sons in law: Dona Terri Cameron (Stace), of Springfield, Illinois, Julie A. Ross (Clifford), of Alton, four grandchildren and their spouses: Kenneth C. Ross (Julia), of Columbia, Missouri, Caitlin E. Reichert (Brendan), of Springfield, Illinois, Kyle P. Ross of Boston, Massachusetts, and Kelsey M. Ross of Edwardsville, Illinois, and two great-grandchildren, Juniper Claire Ross and Cullen Porter Ross of Columbia, Missouri, and one sister: Margaret R. Miller of Florida.. Mary graduated from Olin Nursing School in 1966 and worked for many years at Eunice Smith Extended Care Unit. She also worked as a legal assistant and at the SIUE Dental School. Mary loved to read C. S. Lewis and other inspirational writers, as well as to garden, and spending time with her grandchildren, and making crafts for her children and grandchildren. She loved the ocean and made many memories with her family with years of visits to Daytona Beach. Mary was a devout Christian and attended Brighton Christian Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Samuel E. Coffey, Carl D. Coffey, and James Coffey. A celebration of her life, memorial services will be at 3pm on Saturday, October 25, 2014, at the Brighton Christian Church. Pastor Ron Bottens will officiate and her granddaughter Kelsey M. Ross will assist. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Brighton Christian Church.