Mayme Lou Porter, of Sherman, died on Thursday, March 4, at Hilltop Haven. She was 84. Mayme will best be remembered as a gifted and extraordinary educator who transformed lives with her insight, wisdom and love. Memorial services will be held on Monday at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Sherman with The Rev. Dr. Jim Pledger and Rev. Tom Peel officiating. The family will receive guests in Binkley Hall following the service. Family visitation is scheduled for Sunday evening at Dannel Funeral Home from 5-7.
Mayme was born in Scurry County, Texas on August 29, 1926, to Sam and Vallie Stokes. She graduated with honors from Snyder High School at 16 and moved to Lubbock where she attended Draghan's Business College and worked as a secretary for an insurance firm. She later graduated from Texas Women's University with a BA in education and subsequently acquired her masters at Texas Tech University.
An energetic free spirit, Mayme applied her creativity and innovation to her teaching, first at high schools in Fort Worth and Lubbock, and subsequently at Austin College. She received numerous honors, including Teacher of Year. Recognized for her insightful teaching methods, she was sought as a workshop leader and speaker. Dr. Sidney Simon's 1979 book, Negative Criticism, includes
a chapter called "Mayme's Three Questions." The Sherman Rotary Club acknowledged her contributions to education by naming her a Paul Harris Fellow in 2006.
On April 17, 1989, Mayme was honored with Dave Marquis, a former student and AC graduate, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. as "the teacher who made the difference." Marquis dedicated his 1990 book, co-authored with Robin Sachs, I am a Teacher: A Tribute to America's Teachers to Mayme, saying, "For Mayme Porter, my high school speech teacher. She inspired me to become a teacher. She taught me how to write and perform. Without her the ‘I am a Teacher' project would not exist." The project began as a one-act play that Marquis wrote and starred in, dedicating each performance to Mayme. Former undersecretary of the Department of Education, Linus Wright, said of the play, "I wish that every parent and teacher could have the opportunity to view this dramatic and dynamic presentation."
Upon retiring from Austin College in 1980, Mayme provided consulting services for educators and tutoring for students until 2007. During her "retirement," Mayme wrote a brief memoir called Dust Storms and One Mesquite Tree.
Mayme was a member of Grace United Methodist Church. She appreciated their thoughtful attention and that provided by the Care Team at First United Methodist Church in Sherman.
In addition to teaching, Mayme loved the theater, good books, Broadway music, and complex word games. She spent hours researching and constructing her family history, filling notebooks with genealogy facts and suspiciously interesting rumors. Her command of language made her a dangerous Scrabble player.
Mayme was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Edwin Stokes and Arlen Stokes. She is survived by daughters Anne Curry and husband James, of Humble, TX, and Margie Morris and husband Tim, of Sherman. Mayme enjoyed her five grandchildren: Kimberly McDaniel, Clay Morris, Alice Curry, Kathleen Sekula, and Grant Morris, and her five great-grandchildren: Matthew McDaniel, Chase McDaniel, Presleigh Morris, Phoenix Morris, and Caleb Morris. Mayme was blessed with a number of loving cousins, nieces and nephews, and dear friend, Emilie Collins. Mayme will be remembered by a host of cherished friends, teachers and students whose lives were enriched by her presence.
Mayme was born in Scurry County, Texas on August 29, 1926, to Sam and Vallie Stokes. She graduated with honors from Snyder High School at 16 and moved to Lubbock where she attended Draghan's Business College and worked as a secretary for an insurance firm. She later graduated from Texas Women's University with a BA in education and subsequently acquired her masters at Texas Tech University.
An energetic free spirit, Mayme applied her creativity and innovation to her teaching, first at high schools in Fort Worth and Lubbock, and subsequently at Austin College. She received numerous honors, including Teacher of Year. Recognized for her insightful teaching methods, she was sought as a workshop leader and speaker. Dr. Sidney Simon's 1979 book, Negative Criticism, includes
a chapter called "Mayme's Three Questions." The Sherman Rotary Club acknowledged her contributions to education by naming her a Paul Harris Fellow in 2006.
On April 17, 1989, Mayme was honored with Dave Marquis, a former student and AC graduate, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. as "the teacher who made the difference." Marquis dedicated his 1990 book, co-authored with Robin Sachs, I am a Teacher: A Tribute to America's Teachers to Mayme, saying, "For Mayme Porter, my high school speech teacher. She inspired me to become a teacher. She taught me how to write and perform. Without her the ‘I am a Teacher' project would not exist." The project began as a one-act play that Marquis wrote and starred in, dedicating each performance to Mayme. Former undersecretary of the Department of Education, Linus Wright, said of the play, "I wish that every parent and teacher could have the opportunity to view this dramatic and dynamic presentation."
Upon retiring from Austin College in 1980, Mayme provided consulting services for educators and tutoring for students until 2007. During her "retirement," Mayme wrote a brief memoir called Dust Storms and One Mesquite Tree.
Mayme was a member of Grace United Methodist Church. She appreciated their thoughtful attention and that provided by the Care Team at First United Methodist Church in Sherman.
In addition to teaching, Mayme loved the theater, good books, Broadway music, and complex word games. She spent hours researching and constructing her family history, filling notebooks with genealogy facts and suspiciously interesting rumors. Her command of language made her a dangerous Scrabble player.
Mayme was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Edwin Stokes and Arlen Stokes. She is survived by daughters Anne Curry and husband James, of Humble, TX, and Margie Morris and husband Tim, of Sherman. Mayme enjoyed her five grandchildren: Kimberly McDaniel, Clay Morris, Alice Curry, Kathleen Sekula, and Grant Morris, and her five great-grandchildren: Matthew McDaniel, Chase McDaniel, Presleigh Morris, Phoenix Morris, and Caleb Morris. Mayme was blessed with a number of loving cousins, nieces and nephews, and dear friend, Emilie Collins. Mayme will be remembered by a host of cherished friends, teachers and students whose lives were enriched by her presence.
Mayme Lou Porter, of Sherman, died on Thursday, March 4, at Hilltop Haven. She was 84. Mayme will best be remembered as a gifted and extraordinary educator who transformed lives with her insight, wisdom and love. Memorial services will be held on Monday at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Sherman with The Rev. Dr. Jim Pledger and Rev. Tom Peel officiating. The family will receive guests in Binkley Hall following the service. Family visitation is scheduled for Sunday evening at Dannel Funeral Home from 5-7.
Mayme was born in Scurry County, Texas on August 29, 1926, to Sam and Vallie Stokes. She graduated with honors from Snyder High School at 16 and moved to Lubbock where she attended Draghan's Business College and worked as a secretary for an insurance firm. She later graduated from Texas Women's University with a BA in education and subsequently acquired her masters at Texas Tech University.
An energetic free spirit, Mayme applied her creativity and innovation to her teaching, first at high schools in Fort Worth and Lubbock, and subsequently at Austin College. She received numerous honors, including Teacher of Year. Recognized for her insightful teaching methods, she was sought as a workshop leader and speaker. Dr. Sidney Simon's 1979 book, Negative Criticism, includes
a chapter called "Mayme's Three Questions." The Sherman Rotary Club acknowledged her contributions to education by naming her a Paul Harris Fellow in 2006.
On April 17, 1989, Mayme was honored with Dave Marquis, a former student and AC graduate, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. as "the teacher who made the difference." Marquis dedicated his 1990 book, co-authored with Robin Sachs, I am a Teacher: A Tribute to America's Teachers to Mayme, saying, "For Mayme Porter, my high school speech teacher. She inspired me to become a teacher. She taught me how to write and perform. Without her the ‘I am a Teacher' project would not exist." The project began as a one-act play that Marquis wrote and starred in, dedicating each performance to Mayme. Former undersecretary of the Department of Education, Linus Wright, said of the play, "I wish that every parent and teacher could have the opportunity to view this dramatic and dynamic presentation."
Upon retiring from Austin College in 1980, Mayme provided consulting services for educators and tutoring for students until 2007. During her "retirement," Mayme wrote a brief memoir called Dust Storms and One Mesquite Tree.
Mayme was a member of Grace United Methodist Church. She appreciated their thoughtful attention and that provided by the Care Team at First United Methodist Church in Sherman.
In addition to teaching, Mayme loved the theater, good books, Broadway music, and complex word games. She spent hours researching and constructing her family history, filling notebooks with genealogy facts and suspiciously interesting rumors. Her command of language made her a dangerous Scrabble player.
Mayme was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Edwin Stokes and Arlen Stokes. She is survived by daughters Anne Curry and husband James, of Humble, TX, and Margie Morris and husband Tim, of Sherman. Mayme enjoyed her five grandchildren: Kimberly McDaniel, Clay Morris, Alice Curry, Kathleen Sekula, and Grant Morris, and her five great-grandchildren: Matthew McDaniel, Chase McDaniel, Presleigh Morris, Phoenix Morris, and Caleb Morris. Mayme was blessed with a number of loving cousins, nieces and nephews, and dear friend, Emilie Collins. Mayme will be remembered by a host of cherished friends, teachers and students whose lives were enriched by her presence.
Mayme was born in Scurry County, Texas on August 29, 1926, to Sam and Vallie Stokes. She graduated with honors from Snyder High School at 16 and moved to Lubbock where she attended Draghan's Business College and worked as a secretary for an insurance firm. She later graduated from Texas Women's University with a BA in education and subsequently acquired her masters at Texas Tech University.
An energetic free spirit, Mayme applied her creativity and innovation to her teaching, first at high schools in Fort Worth and Lubbock, and subsequently at Austin College. She received numerous honors, including Teacher of Year. Recognized for her insightful teaching methods, she was sought as a workshop leader and speaker. Dr. Sidney Simon's 1979 book, Negative Criticism, includes
a chapter called "Mayme's Three Questions." The Sherman Rotary Club acknowledged her contributions to education by naming her a Paul Harris Fellow in 2006.
On April 17, 1989, Mayme was honored with Dave Marquis, a former student and AC graduate, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. as "the teacher who made the difference." Marquis dedicated his 1990 book, co-authored with Robin Sachs, I am a Teacher: A Tribute to America's Teachers to Mayme, saying, "For Mayme Porter, my high school speech teacher. She inspired me to become a teacher. She taught me how to write and perform. Without her the ‘I am a Teacher' project would not exist." The project began as a one-act play that Marquis wrote and starred in, dedicating each performance to Mayme. Former undersecretary of the Department of Education, Linus Wright, said of the play, "I wish that every parent and teacher could have the opportunity to view this dramatic and dynamic presentation."
Upon retiring from Austin College in 1980, Mayme provided consulting services for educators and tutoring for students until 2007. During her "retirement," Mayme wrote a brief memoir called Dust Storms and One Mesquite Tree.
Mayme was a member of Grace United Methodist Church. She appreciated their thoughtful attention and that provided by the Care Team at First United Methodist Church in Sherman.
In addition to teaching, Mayme loved the theater, good books, Broadway music, and complex word games. She spent hours researching and constructing her family history, filling notebooks with genealogy facts and suspiciously interesting rumors. Her command of language made her a dangerous Scrabble player.
Mayme was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Edwin Stokes and Arlen Stokes. She is survived by daughters Anne Curry and husband James, of Humble, TX, and Margie Morris and husband Tim, of Sherman. Mayme enjoyed her five grandchildren: Kimberly McDaniel, Clay Morris, Alice Curry, Kathleen Sekula, and Grant Morris, and her five great-grandchildren: Matthew McDaniel, Chase McDaniel, Presleigh Morris, Phoenix Morris, and Caleb Morris. Mayme was blessed with a number of loving cousins, nieces and nephews, and dear friend, Emilie Collins. Mayme will be remembered by a host of cherished friends, teachers and students whose lives were enriched by her presence.
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