Portia Cooper

PORTIA COOPER

Iowa City

Portia L. Cooper, 96, of Iowa City, died Saturday, March 8, 2014, at Mercy Iowa City. A gathering of family and friends will take place 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in the lounge. An additional Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 7, also at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

Memorials in Portia's name can be made to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church or Johnson County 4-H.

Online condolences can be sent to her family at

www.gayandciha.com.

Portia L. Showers was born July 6, 1917, in Iowa City, the daughter of Charles N. and Hedwig (Potratz) Showers. She grew up on the family farm south of Iowa City, graduating with the 1935 City High class and in 1939 from the University of Iowa. Portia met her life partner, Leon, while teaching in Kensett, Iowa, and they married July 4, 1941. Several years later, they moved back to Iowa City where they would begin and raise their

family.

Portia was very active in the community, fundraising for the ICCSD, Longfellow Elementary and Johnson County 4-H. She will be remembered for her 35 years as a 4-H club organizer and her recent induction into the 4-H Hall of Fame at the Iowa State Fair. She put so much of her life into the guidance and leadership of the hundreds of young women with whom she crossed paths, and cherished those opportunities.

Her family includes her children, Patricia, Paul, Carol and Susan Cooper; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Susan Blumgren and James Showers.

Portia was preceded in death by her husband of

almost 70 years, Leon; brother, Donald "Mac" Showers; and her parents.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City is caring for Portia's family.