Marian O. Shirley Porter

Marian O. Shirley Porter, 90, formerly of Indianapolis, passed away in Springfield, IL, at Memorial Hospital on January 2, 2016. Marian was born on June 16, 1925, in Indianapolis, IN, the daughter of Frank V. and Mary Belle Osborn. She attended Shortridge High School and graduated with a B.A. in English from DePauw University. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board, and Alpha Phi Sorority, where she served for a year as vice president and later as a house board member. For a year she was also editor of The Boulder, a DePauw publication, and served as a vice-president of the YWCA on campus. Following graduation Marian worked as editor of the Northside Topics, a neighborhood publication. She taught 5th grade at School 60 for two years, but embraced parenting and homemaking as her primary vocation. Marian married Walter L. Shirley, Jr., on October 8, 1948. He predeceased her on October 5, 1992. She later married Edward D. Porter on November 5, 1993. He predeceased her on September 5, 2009. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Jane V. Hoffmann. Marian is survived by three children, Dr. Frank A. (Sandi) Shirley of Monett, MO; Reverend Alice J. (Don Hoover) Shirley of Springfield, IL; and Charles O. (Ruth) Shirley, CPA, of Brookfield, WI. She has five grandchildren, Charles H. Couch, Grace S. Ashbrook, Brian A. Shirley, Betsy M. Shirley, and Lucy A. Shirley; four great-grandchildren, Logan Reimer-Couch, Brody Ashbrook, Holden Ashbrook, and Corbin Reimer-Couch; stepsons, David (Donna) and Rick Porter; and step-sister-in-law, Anne Throop. Marian was baptized at Tabernacle Presbyterian Church and became an active member of Meridian Street United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school for seven years, directed youth group plays, and served as worship chair, a member of the administrative board, and chair of Love ‘N Bloom. She was involved in several philanthropic endeavors, including Stansfield Circle and Planned Parenthood. Marian was a member of Players Club and a high school sorority called the Skid Club. Her pastimes include sewing, gardening, world traveling, crossword puzzles and genealogy. Services will be at Meridian Street United Methodist Church on Monday, January 11, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. with calling one hour prior to the service. Reverend Anne Rosebrock will be officiating the service. Visitation will be Sunday, January 10, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Shirley Brothers Fishers-Castleton Chapel, 9900 Allisonville Rd. Interment will follow the service at Crown Hill Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to Meridian Street United Methodist Church, 5500 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46208.

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Marian O. Shirley Porter

June 16, 1925 - January 2, 2016