PORTENIER, Mary Elda (Duckworth) - b. April 2, 1911 - d. September 22, 1993

[Janet Harrington]

Mary Elda Portenier passed away Wednesday, September 22, 1993, at the Countryside Estates nursing home in Iola, Kansas.  She was 82 years of age.  Mary was born on April 2, 1911 at Longton, Kansas to Fred Jefferson and Isa Daily (Bright) Duckworth.  Mary graduated from Longton High School in 1928 and attended Pittsburg Teacher's College at Pittsburg, Kansas.  She taught school in Elk and Montgomery counties for five years.

On May 27, 1934 she married Clem L. Portenier at Lafontaine, Kansas.  Mary worked with her husband in their hardware business at Howard.  Clem preceded her in death on February 3, 1986.

Mary maintained her home in Howard until January of 1993, when she moved to Iola, Kansas.  She lived in the Townhouse West Apartments until a few days before her death.

Mary was a long time member of the First Christian Church of Howard, and an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Carter-Rader Post #149 of Howard.

She is survived by her sons, Robert of Wichita and James of Iola, a brother L.A. "Mike" Duckworth of Winfield, a sister, Susie Mahaffy of Wichita, five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Firday, September 24, 1993 at the Zimmerman Funeral Home in Howard, with Ina Brooks of Sedan, Kansas officiating.  Mrs. Helen Vinette was the organist with Mrs. Louise Morgan singing "Ivory Palaces" and "Beyond the Sunset".  The casket bearers were Eugene Cookson, Albert Eubanks, Johnnie Miller, Richard McLean, Bill Pritchett, and Robert Vinette.  Interment was held in the Grace Lawn Cemetery at Howard.  Memorials have been established with the Howard Senior Center and the American Heart Association.  Contributions can be left with the funeral home.  The funeral arrangements were made with the Zimmerman Funeral Home of Howard.

"Dear God, please take her where the sun shines all day because of Your Light.  And no one has to be sick, and no one has to be lonely."