Obituary of Ella Jean Porter

PORTER (Doane), Ella Jean, 87, went to be with the Lord she served on August 5, 2024. The daughter of the late Edward and Doris (Powell) Doane of Yarmouth, Ella was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Doug; her son, David; and grandson, Justin. She was also predeceased by her sister, Carolyn Frizzell and brothers Beryl Doane and Edward Doane. Ella is survived by her son Phil (Judy), Dartmouth; daughter-in-law Shawna, Brooklyn; son Andrew (Nancy), Wisconsin; daughter Sandra (Greg Lowe), Bridgewater; grandchildren Bethany, Zachary, Isaac, Steven, Jessie, Ted (Marissa), Cameron Lowe, and Abigail; great grandchildren Joshua, Cameron, and Alexander Tynes, and Oliver; sisters-in-law Iris Porter and Peggy (Jim Rose).

An old-fashioned pastor’s wife, Ella taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, sang in countless choirs, told innumerable children’s stories and worked alongside Doug at churches in Quincy, Mass.; Westchester Station, Wentworth, New Annan, Collingwood, Dorchester, N.B.; Dartmouth, Aylesford, Morristown, Lake Paul, Coldbrook, Pleasantville, Milton, Charleston, Port Medway, New Ross and New Cornwall, NS. It was a very rare moment when Ella and Doug were not together. 

In addition to being a full-time wife and mother to four active kids, Ella was always proud of the other jobs she’d had. Before marrying Doug, she was Mr. Dean’s secretary at the old Yarmouth Royal Store with a typing speed (on a manual typewriter!) of 126 words per minute. While living in Boston, Ella worked in the John Hancock building. In Wolfville, Ella worked the night shift at Allen’s Apple Juice and took care of the kids in the daytime. When in Dartmouth she was an award-winning salesperson for World Book Encyclopedia. Ella (along with her good friends Pearle, Annie, and Violet) were Vaughn Nichol’s best apple-picking crew during her years in the Valley.

From 1984 – 2009, Ella was an active member of the board of Ghana Rural Integrated Development, responsible for public relations. Together, Ella and Doug made four mission trips to Africa. Hundreds of thousands of people in Ghana were the recipients of their love and care, as they raised funds and acted as resource people and leaders, which has led to clean water, schools, churches and a modern hospital in Northern Ghana.

Ella loved animals. During her younger years on Tinpot Road in Yarmouth, her pets included a crow, a turtle, and a monkey. The family has had more cats than can be remembered, and guinea pigs, rabbits, and dogs were always part of life. While Doug and Ella lived in Pleasantville, she taught squirrels to eat out of her hand, even when her cat, Cuddles, was just inside the sliding doors watching the goings on. Through her later years, as dementia took its toll, any dog or cat that crossed her path would still bring a smile to her face.

Together, Doug and Ella travelled to ten provinces, 24 states and 8 countries. Her greatest love: their greatest love, was their family; children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

A memorial service followed by a reception will be held at Bridgewater Baptist Church on Tuesday, August 20th, at 1 o’clock p.m.  The service will be live-streamed at www.BridgewaterBaptist.com. No flowers at the request of the family. If you wish to honour Ella’s memory, the family encourages you to make a donation to Ghana Rural Integrated Development (GRID), Pleasantville Baptist Church, or Bridgewater Baptist Church.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Sweeny’s Funeral Home, 35 York Street, Bridgewater, where on-line condolences may be made by visiting www.sweenysfuneralhome.com.