Nancy Elgene Porter, 94, Lincoln, passed away July 18, 2017. Born October 5, 1922 in Omaha, NE to Ernest R. and Pearl (Higgins) Freeman. Nancy received her Associate’s degree in Arts from William Woods College, Fulton, MO and her B.A. degree with honors from Omaha University. She was the first female copy editor to work on the news desk at The Lincoln Journal. Following her work for the newspaper, she worked for the University of Nebraska Press as Promotion Director. After retirement from the University, she worked as a Realtor for Woods Brothers Realty. She later worked part-time as a Tourism Resource Guide for the NE Dept. of Tourism welcoming travelers along Interstate 80. Nancy was a member of First-Plymouth Church.
Nancy was an avid golfer, Husker football fan, 5-gaited horseback rider, bridge player, excellent cook, book-lover, and literary enthusiast; she took pleasure in driving convertibles for most of her adult life and often volunteering. Nancy was well-traveled, traveling to 48 out of the 50 states. She was very intelligent with strong sense of integrity. Nancy loved spending time with her family and friends.
Family members include survivors: Daughters, Susan J. Kinyon, Lincoln, and Sara E. Kennedy (Robert Morris), Tampa, Fla. Grandchildren: R. Jason Otto (Tracy), Lincoln; Clare L. Kennedy, Minneapolis, Minn., and Katharine R. Kennedy, Tampa; Great-grandson, Jackson T. Otto, Lincoln; Stepson, George Porter (Sylvia), Portola Valley, Calif.; Stepdaughter, Patricia Porter (Stephen Browning), Menlo Park, Calif.; Step-grandchildren, Leah Porter, Pasadena, Calif; Stephen Porter, Portola Valley, Calif.; Jeff Porter (Beth), Piedmont, Calif; Stepgreat-grandchildren, Madeleine McClam; Jace Porter and Quentin Porter, all of Calif. She was preceded in death by her husband, John J. Porter.
Celebration of Life to be held, 10:30 a.m. Saturday (8-19-17) First-Plymouth Church-Chapel, 2000 D Street with Rev. Dr. Jim Keck officiating. Private family inurnment in the First-Plymouth Columbarium.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be donated to Capital Humane Society, 2320 Park Blvd., Lincoln, Neb. 68502; First Plymouth Church, 2000 D St., Lincoln, Neb. 68502; or Lincoln City Libraries, c/o Bennett Martin Public Library, 136 S. 14th St., Lincoln, Neb. 68508.
No visitation/cremation.
Nancy Porter, 94, one of the first female editors to work on the news desk at the Lincoln Journal, died Tuesday in Lincoln. When she applied for an editing position on the Journal news desk in the late 1950s, the paper’s flamboyant editor, Joe R. Seacrest, hired her partly because he liked the color of the sapphire-blue suit she wore to the interview, he told her many years later.
She loved her work there. Although her legal name was Nancy Schwieder, she wrote an advice column under the pen name “Mary Gordon.” She also edited news stories and wrote headlines.
In her spare time, she served as the newspaper’s book editor. She wrote book reviews under her own byline, which led to a job later at the University of Nebraska Press. There, she promoted books written by some of the most famous of the state’s authors, such as Willa Cather and John Neihardt.
An avid golfer, horseback rider and bridge player, excellent cook, book lover and literary enthusiast, she drove flashy convertibles most of her adult life. The last one was an ocean-blue 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass, which is still in the family.
When the weather was chilly, she would put the top down and turn the heat on full blast to keep her laughing, windblown passengers warm.
Born in 1922, she was the daughter of the late Ernest R. and Pearl H. Freeman of Omaha. She attended public schools before enrolling at William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri. After two years, she transferred to the University of Nebraska at Omaha, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree with honors
In 1946, she married the late Karl William Schwieder, newly returned from military service during World War II. They moved to Kearney, where he worked as a traveling salesman. They had two children. In 1956, they moved to Lincoln, but divorced shortly thereafter. In 1972, she married a widowed former neighbor, John J. Porter, who retired as a vice president at Randolph Oldsmobile. John Porter has since died.
When she retired from the university, she worked as a real estate agent for Woods Brothers Realty. After retiring a second time, she worked part time helping visitors at a state tourism welcome center along Interstate 80.
She was a member of First-Plymouth Church.
Survivors include her daughters, Susan J. Kinyon of Lincoln and Sara Kennedy of Tampa, Florida; stepson George Porter of Portola Valley, California, and stepdaughter Patricia Porter of Menlo Park, California.