Fern Hicks Porter

Fern Hicks Porter, 92, died April 10, 2005, at her home in Fort Collins. She was born Feb. 24, 1913, to Bert Nelson Hicks and Maude Pearle Hicks in Dallas County, Iowa. At the age of 8, she moved to Greeley with her family. She graduated from Greeley High School in 1931. Fern completed two years of college at Colorado Teachers College and received a Life Certificate for teaching. She taught school for two years in a one-room school house near Meeker. On Jan. 13, 1934, she was united in marriage to Vincent Archie Porter in Meeker. In the spring of 1945, they moved to Grand Junction, where they resided for 18 years. During this time, their children received high school diplomas and attended Mesa College. Fern was mostly a homemaker, enjoying family and friends, cooking, sewing, reading and life in general, which included card games like bridge and Oklahoma Rummy. She participated in all her children's activities in school and church. She has been a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church and belongs to AARP and PRSEA. Fern enjoyed traveling, which included all 50 states except Alaska. Her favorite trips were in the Western states. In 1963, Fern moved to Fort Collins, where she spent the remaining 42 years of her life and celebrated 69 years of marriage to Archie before his death in 2003. She was employed by Poudre School District for 10 years in the administration office at Lesher Junior High. Fern Porter is survived by two sons, Lee Porter of Fruita and Roger Porter and wife, Elizabeth, of Johnstown; a daughter, Diana Porter Adams and husband, Gary, of Ca ¦on City; and a niece, Norine Reagan, of Aurora. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Tammy, Shawn, Leann, Glenn and Paul, and nine great-grandchildren. Fern was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Archie; and two sisters, Mildred and Gladys. A memorial service for Fern will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Bohlender Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery. The Rev. Charles Schuster will officiate the services. Memorial contributions can be made to the Hospice of Larimer County or the First United Methodist Church of Fort Collins, in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St., Fort Collins, CO 80524.