Constance 'Connie' Kay Porter

With strength and dignity, Constance Connie Kay Porter fought a long, hard battle with leukemia. In her home, with her family, on 11/9/2010 at 0345 she left us for a better place. Constance Kay Kinnaman was born December 7, 1939 to James and Cristal (Fleenor) Kinnaman in Paris, IL. Connie married Charles K. Porter, Jr. on June 20, 1956 in Shawneetown, IL. They were blessed with five children; Mike (Kathy Klein) Porter, Lyman, SC, Kevin (Denise) Porter, Chrisman, IL, Tee (Dennis) Grant, Georgetown, IL, Marsha (Brent) Lock, Chrisman, IL, and Joe Porter, Georgetown, IL. Connies 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren always held a special place in her heart, and she sparkled in all their hearts. Grandchildren are Jerry (LeAnn) Porter, Eric Klein, Levi Porter, Dusty Porter, Shelby Porter, Cory (Sabrina Krage) Grant, Clayton Grant, Casey Lock, Codi Lock, Lacey Rigsby, and Kelton Sandlan-Porter. Great-grandchildren are Toby Porter, Khayd Grant, Rylan Grant, Dayton Grant, Tegyn Grant, Dominique Chavira, and Ryder Becker. Connie raised her family, assisted with 4-H, was a cub-scout den mother, and babysat. She later worked for Custom Care Dry Cleaners for 32 years, where she retired. Connie became a friend to many customers and was affectionately known as Red. Connie also worked at the Palmer Arena for 12 years, which she enjoyed thoroughly. She touched many lives of youth ice skaters " offering encouragement, discipline, hugs, and band-aids. Connie was a former member of St. Marys Catholic Church in Paris, IL, as well as the Catlin Methodist Church. She was a member of Georgetowns Planning Commission Committee from 2008 " 2009. She also volunteered at Colonial Manor several years maintaining the fish tank and occasionally assisting the pet therapy dog, Hontas, and Tracy. Connie loved giving to others " always offering a kind word, a card, baking a pie for a friend, or anything to show that someone cared. She never asked for anything in return. Connie enjoyed flower gardening, surprising others with gifts, traveling with her children and grandchildren to Florida, South Carolina, New Orleans, New Jersey and Alaska to name a few. She also enjoyed walking throughout her community, bragging about her children and grandchildren and loved going to the beach especially enjoying the dolphins and pelicans while there. Connie is survived by her mother, two sisters Sandy (John) Gray of Beverly, New Jersey, Sherry (Bill) Lenkner of Mattoon, IL, and her brother, Ronnie (Nancy) Kinnaman of Chrisman, Il., children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was preceded by her father and beloved grandparents, Pearle and Myra Kinnaman. Connie will be sadly missed by her family and friends and a close friend of many years, Connie Blaker, as well as all that knew her. A celebration of Connies life will be held at 11:00am, Saturday, November 13, 2010, at Sunsets Houghton-Leasure Funeral Chapel, A Life Celebration Home, 200 E West St, Georgetown. Matt Filicsky will officiate. Visitation will be 4pm-8pm, Friday, November 12, 2010, at the funeral home. She will be laid to rest in Georgetown Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN., Provena Regional Cancer Center, Danville, IL., or an animal shelter of choice.