Francesmary “Mary” (Harmer) Portz, age 94 of North Platte, passed away Wednesday March 8, 2017 at her ranch home.
Mary was born on July 15, 1922 in North Platte to Norman J. “Doc” and Josephine (Hood) Harmer. She was raised in the Sandhills on the Mesmer Ranch at the head waters of the Whitehorse Creek. She had many roles in her life; she was a co-chairman of the Lincoln County Red Cross, a 4H Leader, pro-life advocate, involved with her husband with the NebraskaLand Days Board, was a board member of Community Christian Concern Day Care and Pre-School, she worked in the office of the Western Livestock Auction Co., she and her husband were founding members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, she was a CCD coordinator and Daughter of Charity. In her personal life, she was an avid reader and loved Facebook. She was famous for her pecan cinnamon rolls, and angel food cake, and was an excellent seamstress. She twice won an award from Cheyenne Frontier Days for her reproduction of historical clothing. She and her husband Portzie gave this toast on many occasions, “May you always have the best of everything, blue skies, green grass, clear water and Herefords.” Mary will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Mary is survived by her daughters Trudy (Dennis) Brosius of Brownlee, Jan (Gary) Bush of North Platte and Molly (Kevin) Gorman of Monee, IL; grandchildren Joe Brosius of North Platte, Bell (Tony) Meyer of Stapleton, Gary Bush of Kearney, Amy (Trevor) Buhler of Ferndale, WA, Ann (Jerry) Bloodhart of Shiloh, OH, Jerry Bush of Lincoln, Tess (Jamie) Simpkins of Loveland, CO, Shaun (Nora) Gorman of Los Angeles, CA, John (Tierney) Brosius of Rock Island, IL, Adam (Kristen ) Gorman of Chicago, IL, Jay (Carissa) Gorman of Cornelius, NC, and Kate (fiancé Avery Zink) Gorman of West Lafayette, IN; great grandchildren, Kevin Meyer of AZ, Justin Meyer of Odessa, NE, Sarah and Andrea Meyer of Stapleton, Keeley and Zander Buhler of Ferndale, WA, Kristen and Gage Bloodhart of Ohio, Emma and Abby Simpkins of Loveland, CO, Jack and Rowan Brosius of Rock Island, IL, Declan and Nolan Gorman of IL, Ara, Aleena and Lori Gorman of CA, and Elsie and Conner Gorman of NC; 2 great great grandchildren, Benjamin Meyer of AZ, and Clara Douglas of Stapleton.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Ed “Portzie” Portz in 2012; an infant son; grandson Jed Bush; and her sister Norma McCrone Peterson.
Memorials may be made to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. A Scriptural Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. Monday March 13, 2017 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. After the Rosary, there will be a gathering of family and friends in the Parish Hall. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday March 14, 2017 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church with the Reverend Mark Seiker as Celebrant. Burial will follow at Good Hope Cemetery near the headwater of the Whitehorse Creek north of North Platte. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday March 13, 2017 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.