Suzan Porter

Suzan G. Porter, 68, died Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2007, at her home in Libby from natural causes.

She was born April 2, 1938, in Cleveland, Ohio to Don and Elizabeth Foote Gearhaert. She grew up in Cleveland and graduated from Rocky Hill High School in 1956.

She attended the University of Colorado in Bolder for two years. She then moved to England where she studied at Oxford for a year. She then moved to Paris, France, where she studied at Sorbonne for a year.

Suzan married Robert Porter on June 6, 1981, in Las Vegas, Nev.

She worked as a legal administrator in the San Diego area for 30 years with three different law firms. At the same time she ran her own accounting business.

She was an accomplished rider and competed in world class equestrienne events.

Suzan got her flight instructor's license in 1975. In 1977 she went to work with her husband. In 1979 they formed an acrobatic air show in which she flew the lead plane. They flew air shows for 12 years, which included a four-month tour of South Africa

In 1992 they sold the air show and retired. In 1999 they settled in Libby.

She enjoyed flying, bicycling, hiking, scuba diving and bridge.

Survivors include her husband; children Laural Houlihan and husband Michael of Portland, Ore., Robert W. Porter II and wife Michelle of Poway, Calif., and Anne Daugherty and husband Ron of Santee, Calif.; grandchildren Megan, Kaitlan, Alicallison, Will, Bob III, Christopher, Elizabeth, Ron Jr., and Spencer; sister Elizabeth Ford of La Mesa, Calif.; and two nieces and a nephew.

Services will be held at a later date in San Diego. Local arrangements are by Nelson & Vial Funeral Home.