Ports, Mary Florence 1877-1929

PORTS, ANGER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 1/8/2011 at 09:17:41

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; May 24, 1929

DEATH CLOSES HELPFUL LIFE

Mary Florence Anger was born in Brooklyn, Iowa, June 20, 1877, and died in the Community hospital at Grinnell, Iowa, May 16, 1929, aged 51 years, 10 months and 26 days.

On February 22 she was stricken with paralysis, resulting in a loss of motion on her left side, although she retained all normal functions of mind and body. Even the sense of feeling was acutely retained in her motionless members. She was slowly recovering from her affliction and had regained some little control of her muscular action in her left limb. She was able to sit up most of the day and had been out of doors a few times during the past weeks. She had even taken two auto trips to Grinnell and she thoroughly enjoyed them. On Sunday, May 12 she was attacked with pleurisy which was a serious strain on her weakened system and especially on her heart which was already in a very serious condition. The strain proved too much and finally the heart gave way.

She was graduated from the Brooklyn high school on May 29, 1895, and from the Grinnell College Conservatory of Music on June 12, 1902. She later graduated from the Thomas Normal Training School of Public School Music of Detroit and from the Chicago Summer School music course. She was a private student at different times covering a period of years of some of the best American musical artists.

After graduating from high school she taught in the rural schools near Grinnell and, after finishing her musical course, she was piano and voice instructor in a girls' private college at Jackson, Tenn. Then, for a time in Wilton college, and during the time she was at Wilton college she was choir director of the First Congregational church in Muscatine. She acted as supervisor of public school music at Victor and at Marengo. Throughout the after years she maintained her personal interest in music and directed various choirs and other musical organizations and maintained a class of private students. Even to the day before she was stricken she had given a private piano lesson.

Miss Anger was married to Howard T. Ports on June 15, 1905, at the home of her mother in Grinnell, Iowa. They immediately went to housekeeping in Marengo where Mr. Ports was located as county superintendent of schools.

Through the little less than 24 years she has been her loving husband's constant companion and inspiration. Her ideals were lofty and she possessed the happy faculty of impressing others with the same lofty ambitions. Throughout Mr. Ports' continual public service he has been the ever-present silent partner who worked wonders.

Mrs. Ports' life was one continual exemplification of all that was beautiful, loving, lasting and true. She detested that which was unreal and sham, and was repulsed by that which was untrue. She especially loved the beautiful in music and art and her life was constantly giving expression to her aesthetic nature. She lived in a realm that was not fully appreciated by many excepting those of her immediate family. To her loving husband and her beloved children she was a constant beacon for those things which were higher up, for those things which were lovely and beautiful.

She lived for those she loved. Her fondest hopes were for her darling children. Her "Bunny boy," her "Dolly baby," her "Buddy chum" and her "Todie Tuppins" were household pet names known only to those who were close to the family, and to her these pet names meant a world of love and affection and expectations. The familiar expression from those who knew her best was that she worshipped her family. Her one wish after her recent affliction was that she might be spared to see her baby girl and younger boy through to beautiful womanhood and manhood. She recently said that God had surely spared her for her younger children.

Mrs. Ports was public spirited and in whatever community she happened to be, her talents were given unstintedly. She would labor incessantly for a noble cause and especially if in the interest of the youth without any thought of remuneration.

She was deeply religious and from early childhood was interested in all church activities. In early womanhood she was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal church at Brooklyn, and has retained her membership to the present time, although transferring to the various churches where she has resided. She fully trusted the all-wise Father and had implicit faith that His will was just and that all things worked for good to those who love Him.

To cherish her memory and beautiful character are left for a season her husband, Supt. H.T. Ports; her four children, Preston Wesley, E. Adelaide, Thomas A. and Florence Eloise; one sister, Delma A. of Grinnell, and two brothers, Dr. H.W. Anger of Victor and Dr. A.E. Anger of Brooklyn, and a host of friends.