Catherine Ann Ditson Porter (Kay) passed away January 2, 2017 in her home at the age of 86. She was born May 22, 1930 in Joplin, MO to William Morgan Ditson and Margaret Helen George Ditson.

Known as Catherine as a young girl in Joplin she was, in her own words, "a left-handed Gemini" – maintaining a youthful, loving spirit throughout her life. While attending Joplin high school Catherine took an active part in speech and journalism and was a member of the Joplin drum corp., the National Honor Society and Lambda Alpha Lambda Sorority.

From 1948 to 1952 Kay attended the University of Missouri, Columbia majoring in Home Economics with a B.S. degree. She was a member of Delta Gamma Fraternity and Phi Mu Scholastic Fraternity.

Kay married her childhood sweetheart, James Baxter Porter Jr. in 1951, and they were blessed with a son, James B. Porter III "Jim" and a daughter, Elizabeth Ann Porter (Betsy). Kay and Jim shared an amazing life of love and adventure together for 65 years of marriage. They were always very proud of their two children whom they gently guided with love and encouragement through childhood to mature adults with children of their own.

After graduation from MU in 1952, Jim was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force. Jim, Kay and their baby son moved to Orlando, Florida for a two-year tour of duty. In 1954 the young family moved to Springfield, MO where Jim pursued a career in public accounting with BKD CPA Firm and Kay used her talents to nurture their son and now baby girl.

The welfare of children and youth through volunteer work with a number of organizations gave Kay a great deal of satisfaction. She served many community needs as President of Springfield Jaycee Wives, Preschool Section Chairman and then President of Sunshine School PTA. Moving up the leadership ladder she was elected President of Springfield PTA Council at age 40. Although active involvement in meeting community needs was rewarding enough, Kay was honored several times for her volunteer work: Mrs. Jaycee Wife of Missouri at age 35, Outstanding Young Women of Springfield in 1965, The Cable Award from Delta Gamma Fraternity in part due to her work with blind students at Delaware School, and the International Merit Award for redeveloping the ESO Reading Program of Missouri General Federation of Women's Clubs (GTWC).

Kay continued in PTA leadership positions at city and state levels for nearly 20 years. Perhaps she held the deepest sense of commitment to the Springfield Girls Club (later the Boys and Girls Club), working to help young girls reach their full potential. She served on the Board of Directors for more than 15 years (three years as President of the Board) in both fundraising and "hands on" projects with the girls at both the Kynion Club and the Mellers Club. For this dedication, Kay was awarded the Southwestern Bell Award for Adult Volunteer of Springfield in 1988 by the United Way of the Ozarks.

And there was more work to be done. She continued working for children: better education, better health, wider exposure to the arts through such organizations as GFWC Sorosis of Springfield, P.E.O. Chapter FU, SMMA, and faithful membership at First and Calvary Presbyterian Church for over 60 years.

During the lifetime of raising two remarkable children and forty plus years of dedicated volunteerism, Kay and Jim had fun along the way. Playing golf, trips to the lake, entertaining friends and family were all special treats. Kay loved to cook and even wrote and had published a 300-page cookbook honoring the memory of her mother in 2001. When Jim retired in 1995 they had more time to travel and they took many exciting trips throughout the world.

Catherine is survived by her two children: James B. Porter III and wife Pamela of Atlanta, GA and Elizabeth Ann and husband Larry Kim Rountree of Augusta, KS; grandchildren: Caleb Ryan Porter and wife Andrea of Portland, OR; Abraham Seth Porter and wife Meagen of Bluffton, SC; Elizabeth Jane Porter Cavenaugh and husband Joel of Washington, DC; and Robert James Rountree of Augusta, KS. Eight great-grandchildren full of promise and loved by all: Colin, Jake and Stella Porter; Monroe and Abraham II Porter; Willa and Eleanor Cavenaugh; and Emily Rountree. Catherine is also survived by a sister, Helen Lloyd Snoke and husband Ralph of Santa Fe, NM; nieces Deborah Forrest and husband Tom Scott of Dallas, TX and Diane Elizabeth Kliebenstein and late husband Gary of Dallas, TX; cousin Jack George and his adult children Jim, Janene, Julie and John of Pierce City, MO.

She is preceded in death by her parents Bill and Margaret Ditson; and husband, Jim.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, January 6, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel. Immediately following the service, the family will gather with friends for a time of visitation at the funeral home. Catherine chose to be cremated with her final resting place at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in South Springfield with her husband Jim.

Memorial donations may be made to Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield, 835 W. Calhoun, Springfield, MO 65802 or First and Calvary Presbyterian Church, 820 E. Cherry, Springfield, MO 65806.