Mrs. Doris Eloise Porter

Doris Eloise Sowers Porter, age 84, of Salisbury died peacefully Sunday, December 29, 2013 at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, GA following surgery due to a broken hip. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Jacob Daniel (J.D.) Porter who died March 10, 1994; brother Sidney George Sowers who died January 27, 1973. Doris was born in Salisbury on August 21, 1929 the daughter of Sidney Otis Sowers and Addie Eula Cauble Sowers Kirk. She graduated from Boyden High School in 1947 and earned a B.A. degree in Music and English in 1950 from Catawba College in Salisbury. Following graduation she taught seventh grade at East Spencer and Hurley Schools in Rowan County. During her school years she was pianist for Mary Oma Carter’s School of Dance. For many years she also taught private piano lessons and assisted her husband, J.D. Porter, at Porter Enterprises, Inc. , serving as secretary and treasurer. Doris was a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Salisbury, she taught Sunday school in the Nursery, Cradle Roll classes, she played piano for the Adult Sunday School Class, served as president of the Eva Peeler Bible Class for three years. She was a member of the Martin Luther Class and served as Welcome Place Greeter, served on the Altar Committee. Doris and J.D. were Adult Leaders of the Senior High Luther League, the Bell Choir and the Chancel Choir. She was a member of the Salisbury Symphony, Salisbury/Rowan Symphony Guild, Daughters’ of the American Revolution, English Speaking Union, Waterworks, Rowan Museum, Piedmont Players, Beta Sigma Phi (past member), Rowan Arts Council, Piedmont Players, Rowan Community Concert Association, Celebration of Life (Charter Member), Country Club of Salisbury. Doris enjoyed family, friends, Classical Music, movies, shopping, audio books, and tennis. Her hobbies included a rose garden and sharing the roses with others and playing piano. She treasured her friends participating in “Sempiternal Bridge Friends through today”, “Down One Bridge Club”, “Bridge Dolls” and “Church Bridge” and her tennis friends. Those left to cherish her memories are her son William Sidney “Bill” Porter (Judy) of Sandy Springs, GA; daughters Diane Porter Liscum (Jeff) of Marietta, GA and Brenda Porter Morrison (Rodger) of Charlotte; sister Marion Sowers Grogan of Reidsville; grandchildren Catherine Liscum Gordon (Dave) of Atlanta, GA, Charles Liscum (Courtney) of Atlanta, GA, Whitney Morrison of Raleigh, Julie Morrison of Charlotte; Sidney Porter (Danielle) of Homer, GA, Chris Porter, a student at Auburn University, and Andrew and Sarah Porter of Atlanta, GA; and great-grandchildren Savannah, Will and Graham of Georgia. Service: 1:00 PM Saturday, January 4, 2014 at St. John’s Lutheran Church conducted by Rev. Rhodes Woolly. Following the service the family will invite the entire congregation to join them for lunch in the fellowship hall to celebrate the life of Doris Sowers Porter. Memorials: St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144.

Mrs. Doris Eloise Porter

August 21, 1929 - December 29, 2013