Deana Porter

DEANA PORTER

Cedar Rapids

Deana D. Porter, 52, of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, July 4, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids. Services: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 10, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. Family will greet friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, at the funeral home. Inurnment: Linwood Mausoleum,

Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include her children, Austin Porter and Sabrina Porter, both

of Cedar Rapids; siblings, Randy Abernathy and Greg (Naida) Abernathy, all of Marshalltown, Glena (Robert) Clarke of Iowa City, Tarol (Clayton) Black of Cedar Rapids and Brandy (Garry) Staker of Marshalltown; and her significant other, Brent Westlake of Conesville.

She was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Gilbert "Pete" Bell; and sister-in-law, Julie Abernathy.

Deana was born May 11, 1962, in Marshalltown,

Iowa, daughter of Gerald and Reva (Nichols) Abernathy. She graduated from Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids in 1980. Deana worked various jobs before working at the University of

Iowa for over 25 years. She married James Porter in September 1988; they later divorced.

Deana was a member of Hus Pres-byterian Church. In her younger years, she enjoyed competitive horseback riding, including barrel racing. She ran for the track team and was in marching band. Deana was a past member of the Scarlet Angles drum and bugle corp. She enjoyed sewing and gardening. Deana had a beautiful colorful yard full of flowers that she enjoyed sharing with others. Deana enjoyed spending time on the house boat at Ellis Park, going on motorcycle rides and loved her time with Brent on the farm. She was an active supporter of the ARC.

Please sign the online guest book for Deana at

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