Lora Luetta (Blanchard) Smith

Mrs. Lora Luetta (Blanchard) (Portwood) Smith, age 89 of Vancouver, Washington, formerly of Metropolis, Illinois, passed away at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at Precious Heart Adult Care in Vancouver, WA.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2023 at Metropolis Memorial Gardens.

Lora married Virgil Lee Portwood in 1950. While she was married to Virgil, they moved every two years due to the military reassigning him to different locations such as Balboa, Panama, Okinawa, Japan, England, Montogomery, AL, Dayton, OH, and Sacramento, CA. During these times, they were blessed with three children, Patricia, Beverly and Robert. Lora stayed very close to her parents and relatives in Metropolis, and went back to visit or live there as much as possible. She came through all the moves like a champion and set up each home in a loving manner. Being a mother meant that Lora had to take care of her children through being scared, the croup, falls, broken bones, measles, mumps and other childhood illnesses. She was an exceptional mother that was always there to give comfort and love.

She loved and had many different animals. In nice weather, you could always find her outside tending to her garden and flowers. After her divorce, she moved to Georgia to be near her sister. Then, she tried Colorado Springs to be near Beverly and ended up settling near Patricia in Texas. When Patricia moved to Washington, Lora moved too, which is where she eventually died.

Her children, relatives and friends will miss her terribly. Her children remember all the good and silly times they had with her and will miss her warm embraces, kisses galore, understanding, love and sweetness. She was wonderful and they will miss her every day. We say goodbye to her but we know we will see her again.

“Mom, enjoy your family in heaven and know we will be OK. You’ve prepared us for this time of grieving and afterwards as we live out the rest of our lives. Til we see you again, much love and kisses to you. We love you to the moon and back.” -Pat, Bev and Bob

Lora is survived by her children, Patricia Ann Thompson of Vancouver, WA, Beverly Ann Griesemer of Florissant (Colorado Springs), CO, and Robert Lee Portwood of Tallahassee, FL; grandchildren, Kimberly Ann Porter of Portland, OR and Heather Ann Smith of Portland, OR; great grandchild, Phoenix Alexandra Smith of Portland, OR; 1st cousin by marriage, Steven Cochran of Metropolis, IL; and two nieces by marriage, Sherry Carl Turner and Janice Turner.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Ulysses and Alene Mertis (Hicks) Blanchard of Metropolis; ex-spouse, Virgil Lee Portwood of Metropolis; sisters, Lucille Hoover of Springfield, IL and Eula Mae (Clutts) Smith of Albany, GA; brother, Robert Ulysses Blanchard, Jr. of Springfield, IL; and nephews, Michael Lee Clutts of North Carolina.

Visitation will be held from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2023 at Aikins-Farmer-Loftus-McManus Funeral Home in Metropolis, IL.

Condolences for the family may be left online at www.aikinsfarmer-millerfh.com.  

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