Nancy Porter

Nancy Jane Grady Porter, 81, of Palmyra, MO, passed away at 4:44 a.m. Sunday, June 8, 2025, surrounded by her loving daughters at her home.

She was born August 17, 1943, in Jacksonville, Illinois, to Harold Grady and Lillie Dietrich Grady. She joined her sister Judy in the family.

She grew up a happy country girl with her bare feet in the dirt, climbing trees, playing with cats, catching minnows in a bucket, picking berries, games with neighbor kids.

She was baptized into Christ at the Cooperstown Christian Church, where she was active. Nancy was a 4-H member.

Nancy graduated from Brown County High School with the class of 1961 and graduated from Gem City Business College.

On June 6, 1965, Nancy married Phil Porter (Deceased). Together, they raised two daughters, Tracy Ann and Tiffany Lee, their pride and joy.

Nancy’s career spoke of her love of animals. She worked in the field of veterinary medicine working and watching many new vets who have their own clinics to this day.

She was a talented artist and craftswoman in woodworking, painting, sewing, and most recently coloring.

All her life, she was a caring and giving person, volunteering in the local food pantry for a time. For several years, she took care of her aging parents’ needs. Her focus was always her family, whom she loved dearly. She and her sister share a special bond and were best friends, sharing each other’s lives.

Nancy enjoyed many activities during her lifetime. One being helping her daughters with the horses and even riding herself. There were many shows, many competitions, and she was always right there supporting them. She enjoyed trips to Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin. She enjoyed shopping trips with her beloved friend Donna Foreman (Deceased). She enjoyed reading and watching movies. And loving the pets she’s had in her life. Peanut and Pepper were her rescues from where she worked.

She is survived by her daughter Tracy Helms, daughter Tiffany Church, granddaughters Rhylee (Joshua) Warning, Lillie Church, and Lydia Church; great-grandsons, Reed and John B Warning, all of Missouri. Also surviving are her sister Judy Weston, nephew Jason Weston, niece Melissa Weston, all of Wyoming and several cousins. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, son-in-law Randy Helms, brother-in-law Dale Weston, and also aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Cremation was performed per her request. A private family burial will take place at Hersman Cemetery and contributions or donation can be made to the Palmyra Food Pantry c/o Lummis Hamilton Funeral Home, PO Box 255, Camp Point, IL 62320.

Online condolences may be left at www.hamiltonfuneralhomes.net.