Brenda L. Porter

Brenda Leigh Porter, age 63, of Buckeye, Arizona passed away on November 9^th 2019 after losing her battle with breast cancer. She was born, December 18^th 1955, as the much loved daughter of Albert and Mary Ann Cote. Brenda grew up in Missoula, Montana where she met her husband Gregory Porter before moving to Seattle, Washington.  They moved to Buckeye, Arizona in 2008.

Brenda, lovingly described as “highly tolerable” by her family, was a loving wife and dedicated mother who always put her daughters, Alisha Wheeler and Tasha Mitchell, first. When her girls where young she left her job as a teacher to care for them full time, while her husband followed his dreams and traveled for his job. She was the “perfect mom” and being a mother came naturally to her and if asked she would proudly say that her girls and the family she built with her husband were her greatest accomplishment. Brenda was never afraid to get her hands dirty and work hard. She worked countless hours on her home in Seattle, Washington adding on additions to the home.

As a stay at home mom, she knew how to make growing up an adventure. Every day with her kids was a new chance to teach them something. Brenda was a big believer in the saying that “education doesn’t end when a child leaves the classroom”. She would sit down every day to help her girls with their homework, spent hours creating fun chore charts to make cleaning enjoyable, and always had some new activity planned for each break in the school year. Brenda spent as much time with her family as possible and always made them her top priority; she never missed anything, from sports, school activities, to awards nights and school fairs she was there for her girls every step of the way.

She spent years teaching her daughters how to be strong; how to never let life’s ups and downs keep you from moving forward. She taught these lessons not only with words but, through her actions every day. Even throughout her battle with cancer she never once complained and would always say “Oh, I’m fine” when asked how she was, even on her worst days.

Never one to be conventional, Brenda took her daughter Tasha to get her first tattoo at 14 years old. Originally opposed to the idea she was convinced by Tasha after being told “I have good grades, I play sports, I don’t drink or do drugs, and I’m not having sex. I just want a tattoo.” After making sure Tasha had the money to pay for it herself Brenda took her daughter in to their local tattoo shop.

As her children grew older and her husband traveled less for work Brenda reentered the work force and began a long and successful career in sales. She loved her job and it showed. Brenda was beloved by her coworkers and customers alike for her bubbly attitude and kind nature. She worked up until the week before her death at Marcone Supply. When she wasn’t working, Brenda enjoyed spending time with her family playing card games, crafting beautiful quilts, reading a good book, or riding her Indian Motorcycle.

Her love for her family and their closeness was not limited to her husband and children. One of Brenda’s favorite family events was each year, when her mother, Mary Ann, would visit in November. Brenda would go get tickets for the Coyotes versus Avalanche hockey game and make an event out of it. When it came to her siblings, Nancy, Pat, Mark and their families, she would go “out of her way” to spend time with them. Brenda never passed up the opportunity to spend time with any of her family members, especially her grandchildren.

She loved being a grandmother and spending time with her grandchildren, Keelan and Rilynn. There were countless weekends that Keelan and Rilynn spent with her, having sleepovers, watching movies, swimming in the pool, playing hide and seek, and many other fun things. Through all of the fun, Brenda instilled two things in her grandchildren that they will forever carry with them; a good sense of family and love in their hearts.

Brenda had a signature whistle; the one that signaled her kids to come home from playing outside. Gregory will never forget the way she talked in her sleep almost as if she was still awake. Her classic “oh geez,” will always bring laughter to those who knew her. Let us all remember the important lessons Brenda taught us; always be kind and giving. Be accepting of everyone because everyone needs someone and most importantly don’t forget to tell your family “I love you to the moon and back.”