Jessie Garland Porter

August 15, 1918 - January 10, 2020

Jessie passed away at her home in Burnaby, BC, on 10 January 2020 at the age of 101 years. She was born in a farm house near Hanley, Saskatchewan, on 15 August 1918.

Upon completing Normal School in Saskatoon, she taught grades 1-12 in a one room school house for one year. She then came to Vancouver in summer 1939 and worked housekeeping jobs, including for the family of McGavin's Bakery, before hiring on at the Royal Bank of Canada where she met her future husband, Arthur Porter. They were married in March 1947, built their house (which she designed) in Burnaby, into which they moved in spring 1949 with their one year old son, and where she lived ever since.

Jessie enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy in August 1944 and was discharged in February 1946. She was a teletype operator in Halifax NS and a Wren Coder.

Sewing & reading were passions of Jessie. She loved to sew and made most of the clothes for her three young children and for herself in excess of seventy years, later making clothes for her infant grandchildren. You could often find her with a book after dinner, relaxing for the evening.

Jessie was a member of Collingwood Baptist Church for over 50 years and served in several capacities including a leader of Pioneer Girls, president, treasurer of the Women's Circles and the Women's Missionary Society.

She is survived by her children Douglas, Marcia Nottle (Brian), Alison Poynter (Larry), grandchildren Kevin Nottle, Lindsey Nottle (fiance Maggie Cheung), step grand children Alyssa Wolanski (Darryl), Christina Longhi (Sean-Christerfer), three step great grandchildren, nephew Jim Pearson (Donna), niece Nona Flemming (Doug), nephew Murray Pearson, grandnephew Ryan Pearson, grandnieces MaryEllen Machuk (Andrew), Melissa Pearson (Jon Ng), Paula Watkins (Joe), Carly Flemming, Julie Flemming, and four great grandniece / nephews.

Predeceased by her parents, Sydney and Tena Pearson, Burnaby, BC, her husband Arthur Porter, Burnaby, BC, her twin sister Isabel Green, Trail, BC, and her brother Frank Pearson, Calgary, AB.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, 08 February, 2020 at Collingwood Baptist Church, 4847 Joyce Street, Vancouver, BC at 2:00 pm.

Please join the family for refreshments following the service.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Red Cross, or a charity of your choice.