Valerie Ruth Porter

Valerie Ruth Porter is now dancing in Heaven with her husband, Donal Glay Porter. She passed away peacefully at her home at 6:15 a.m. on Saturday, October 26, 2024. She was born August 8, 1933, in Lakeland, Florida. She was the daughter of Andrew Vaughn and Elizabeth (May) Vaughn Billingsley. She and Donal were married on February 20, 1953, and he preceded her in death on November 12, 2000.

Valerie graduated from Tate High School, in Pensacola, Florida, in 1951. She worked at Delco Electronics/GM for 30 years before retiring in 1992 and had also worked as a switchboard operator for Southern Bell Telephone Company. She enjoyed dancing and travelling with Donal, as well as flowers and gardening, trips to the casino and the beach, margaritas with family and friends, spending time with her grandkids, QVC shopping, and shoes. She was a member of ConneXion Church (formerly St. Luke’s United Methodist).

Survivors include her son, Michael Porter; daughter, Beth (Tod) Schave; grandchildren, Shanon Porter (John Kretz), Shyla Richards, Jeri (Jeff) Norus, Danny (Candice) Porter, Kendrah Richards, Cassidy Richards, Justin Schave, Jamie Schave (Deidre McCartney), Amanda (Bobby) Oneal, Sarah (Brent) Dodson, Amber (John) Altman, and Amy (Ryan) Knight; 27 great-grandchildren; special cousin, Lucinda Holden; brother-in-law, Jim (Millie) Porter; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Teresa Baldwin; grandson, Jason Porter; brother, Neil (Ann) Vaughn; and sister, Juanelle (Marvin) Tolar.

Funeral services will be held at Noon on Friday, November 1, 2024, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory, 1315 W. Lincoln Rd., Kokomo, with Pastor Sam Padgett officiating. Burial will follow in Kokomo Memorial Park. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 10:00 a.m. to Noon on Friday at the funeral home. Contributions may be made in Valerie’s memory to the Kokomo Humane Society. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.

Jeffrey L. Pickett

Jeffrey L. Pickett, 70, of Tipton, passed away at home on Sunday, October 27, 2024. He was born in Tipton on June 7, 1954, to Clarence & Marjorie (Armour) Pickett.

Jeff had recently started working at Burger King after having worked at the Tipton Recycle Center, and before that he worked many years for Jim Walker in his trash hauling business among other jobs.

He was a graduate of Tipton High School in the Class of 1972. Jeff loved to read and was very good in drawing. When time allowed, he loved to slip away and spend some time fishing.

Jeff is survived by his sister Margaret E. “Mickey” Ryan of Tipton; two sisters-in-law, Marilyn Pickett and Margaret Pickett and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Reid C. Pickett, Mike I. Pickett and Leslie R. Pickett.

For many years Jeff had requested no funeral after he passed away, and his family is honoring his request. He will be cremated and buried at Fairview Cemetery at a later date. Young-Nichols Funeral Home is assisting the Pickett family, and online condolences may be left for his family on his obituary page at www.young-nichols.com.

Memorial donations in honor of Jeff should be made to the Tipton County Humane Society, P.O. Box 237, Tipton, Indiana, 46072.