Maretta Kay "Mert" Porter

Maretta “Mert” Porter, 53, of Lexington, Nebraska, died Wednesday, October 28, 2009, at Good Samaritan Hospital, in Kearney, Nebraska. She was born November 3, 1955, in Ainsworth, Nebraska, to Howard and Leona (Kaufman) Swinney. Maretta was named after two of her aunts, Margaret Swinney Sybrant & Neta Joyce Kaufman Anderson. She grew up on a small ranch in Rock County, she was always willing to help her dad with the cows and feed the calves. She was active in 4-H. She graduated from Rock County High School with the class of 1974. Mert was united in marriage to Burton Porter on December 9, 1978, at the Rose United Methodist Church at Rose, Nebraska. Two children, Carrie and Curtis, were blessed to this union. She worked at Husky Truck Stop, Norm’s Café, Little Paris Café and was a famous face at Kirk’s NebraskaLand Restaurant for over 13 years, where she loved visiting and teasing all the truckers. Mert enjoyed riding horses and working with cattle. She had volunteered at Lexington schools helping with special need students. She was known as “Mom” to many children in the area. Mert enjoyed working with wood and made toy boxes for her two oldest grandchildren. Mert was also talented in making crocheted dolls and blankets and had often entered between twenty and forty items each year at the Dawson County Fair. Mert enjoyed bowling with her friends in the Blue Monday League. She always looked after her family and made craft items to give her children and grandchildren as gifts. Mert was a member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, Custer #41 in Broken Bow. Survivors include son: Curtis Porter of Lexington, Nebraska. Daughter: Carrie and Scott Rasmussen of Chappell, Nebraska. Mother: Leona Swinney of Bassett, Nebraska. Sister: Gretchen Swinney of Bassett, Nebraska. Four granddaughters: KayLee and Shealynn Rasmussen and Kiley and Savanna Porter. Sister-in-law: Connie and Jim Gunther of Mesquite, Nevada. Brother-in-law: Leland Porter of Chappell, Nebraska. Three adopted daughters: Myra & Bill Sexton of Fort Morgan, Colorado and their children, Bobby Sue & Sean Shrum of Fort Morgan, Colorado and their family, JJ & Tabitha Sexton of Ingalls, Kansas, Crystal & John Niklaus of New Raymer, Colorado. Sharon & James Baladez of Purzy, Colorado and their children, Jamie & Jay Olson of Loveland, Colorado, Philip & Sophia Baladez of Greeley, Colorado, Seth Baladez and James Michael Baladez both of Purzy, Colorado. Kalee & Larry Lay of Nashville, Tennessee and their children, Brandon, Jenna, Sophie and McKayla. Four nieces, two nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends. Mert was preceded in death by her husband Burt in 2008, father Howard Swinney, and two brothers, Harold and Ward Swinney as well as uncles, aunts and grandparents. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Lexington with Rev. Todd Karges, officiating. Visitation will be held Friday, October 30, 2009 from 4-7 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. Graveside services will be held Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. at the Rose Hill Cemetery in rural Bassett, Nebraska. Memorials are suggested to the Porter Family. Online condolences may be directed to: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com