PORT TOWNSEND — A memorial service for activist Nora Porter, who died on Oct. 31, will take place Saturday at Fort Worden State Park.
The service be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Fort Worden Commons.
Porter, whose activism is credited for the support of several social programs and charities, died of lung cancer at the age of 74.
The event’s featured speakers are former Rep. Lynn Kessler, Monica McGuire, Jean Camfield, Dave Woodruff, Meg Kilmer and Porter’s son, Kyle Porter.
After the featured speakers, others who knew Porter will be invited to share their recollections.
Food and drink will be served.
The event is open to the public.
Aside from her local efforts and board memberships, Porter worked as aide for Kessler, a Democrat from Hoquiam, for the first third of Kessler’s 18-year legislative career representing the 24th District, which covers Jefferson and Clallam counties and part of Grays Harbor County.
Porter, a Port Townsend resident, was honored with a Jefferson County Heart of Service award in May for her longtime public service.
She was recognized for her passionate support of Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County and many other education and community causes.
These ranged from the Port Townsend Foundation and Port Townsend High School Scholarship Foundation (both of which she helped create) to being a member of the Port Townsend School Board to longtime service on the Fort Worden Advisory Board and Peninsula College Board of Trustees.
At the time of her death Porter was an at-large member of the Fort Worden Advisory Committee, where she participated in park planning and argued tirelessly against establishing an admission system for state parks.
In 1977, she was elected for the first time to the Port Townsend School Board.
Porter also contributed several essays to “City of Dreams,” a 1986 history of Port Townsend.
Porter’s family has requested that any memorial donations be made to Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson County.
