Ruby Porter

Ruby Porter was born on December 29, 1920 at her parent’s farm home, north of Elsie Nebraska. She was the oldest of 2 children born to Edgar and Stella Thompson Cunningham. Her brother, Wayne, was 6 years younger than Ruby.
Ruby attended school through the eighth grade at country school District 23 where her mother and later three of her daughters attended. She graduated from Perkins County High School in Grant in 1938. She then went on to attend Kearney St. Teacher’s College where she received her Normal Training certificate. Ruby returned and taught rural school for 6 years.
Ruby was married to Don Porter at Pacific Grove, California on January 10, 1942. They lived in California for seven months before Don was deployed to the Aleutian Islands during World War 2. Ruby returned to Perkins County to live with her parents. When her parents moved to North Platte in 1945, Don and Ruby moved to the home place where they lived for 42 years. In 1987 they retired and moved to Grant. Don died in 1995 after 53 years of marriage.
Ruby maintained her home until 2010 when she moved to Westview Retirement. She then moved to Park Ridge Assisted Living in December of 2014 and to Golden Ours Convalescent Home in March of 2015. Ruby had been failing in health following a broken hip in April. She died peacefully at the Perkins County Community Hospital early Saturday morning, May 16 with her family by her bedside. She had reached the age of 94. Ruby fought severe rheumatoid arthritis for nearly 45 years of her life and was a 29 year survivor of breast cancer. As a Perkins County resident throughout her life, she was well known for her love of people, her upbeat attitude, and her caring ways.
She was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church in Elsie and Grant, belonged to the Elsie American Legion Auxiliary, the Grant V.F.W., and the Economy Boosters Club. Ruby liked to read, play cards, work crossword puzzles, and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, Ruby was preceded in death by her brother, Wayne, and all of her 18 first cousins.
She is survived by her four daughters- Pam (Larry) Seiler of Sutherland, Janni (Harlan) Rahn of Grant, Gailya (Tim) Cooper of Omaha, and Donna (Mike) Mayer of Grant; 9 grandchildren- Angie (Jim) Williams, Sam (Renee) Seiler, Joe Cooper, Charlie (Samantha) Goff, Bonnie (Mica) Becker, Molly( Jarred) Rowe Jeff ( fiance’, Kathleen Kean ) Cooper, Drew Mayer, and Brad (Shelby) Mayer; 10 great-grandchildren,Aryn and Austin Seiler, Claire and Stella Williams, Emmalee, Porter Jo, and Jayven Goff, Bella Becker, Paisley and Callum Mayer; other relatives and friends.