Our beautiful mother, Portia Watson Ellison, passed away peacefully on April 24, 2025, at the age of 94.  She was surrounded by her children who loved and cherished her. Portia's has been an example of faith and was an inspiration to her children throughout their lives.

Portia was born on September 29, 1930, in Hartsville, South Carolina to Luke Allen Watson and Beulah Delila Tolson.  Portia was the oldest of six children. In 1936, when Portia was 5, her parents drove to Salt Lake City to be sealed as a family in the LDS Temple, a journey of 2,200 miles.

Portia lost her father in 1944.  She became a partner with her mother in raising her siblings.  She had many different jobs in her early years.  At age 15 she was the delivery girl for her mother's doughnut shop, "Donut Dinette".  She was delivering donuts at 4:00 in the morning before school.  She was able to go to college from the money she collected from the jukebox at the "Donut Dinette".

Portia attended William and Mary College in Richmond, Virginia, majoring in Fashion/Commercial Illustration.  She always had a love of sketching and painting. While at college her sister, June, wrote and told her of a handsome return LDS missionary that had spoken at their stake conference.  Unbeknownst to Portia, her mother had invited this young man to their home for Christmas.  Portia surprised her family and arrived home early and was very vocal about her displeasure of having Christmas company. Portia and the young man, Joe, became engaged that night.

Four Months later, they decided to drive to Salt Lake City, with her mother Bood, her sister June 1st cousin Dewey and Ophelia Messer in the same car, to be sealed in the LDS temple. Portia and Joseph Fielding Ellison were sealed for time and all eternity on April 5, 1950.

They were blessed to celebrate 69 years together.  Together they loved and raised 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls. Portia was always an adventurer.  Portia and Joe traveled the country showing their children historic sites, grand national parks and the beautiful beaches of South Carolina.

Portia had many church callings. She said that she served in every position and every organization, but the one she loved the most was being the Primary chorister.  She was dearly loved by these primary children that she taught the gospel of Jesus Christ through song.

In 1969, Portia and Joe moved their family to Provo, Utah to start another adventure.  After Joe's retirement from the Postal Service, they became caretakers of the LDS Girls Camp, Camp Shalom, located in Fairview Canyon.  They enjoyed working at Camp Shalom and serving the young women and leaders of the Provo/Orem stakes for 20 years.  It was a special highlight of their lives.

After their service at Camp Shalom, they moved back to Columbia, South Carolina to serve as LDS temple workers for 6 years.  Portia loved the special time and experiences they had there with family and new friends.  Their children asked them to move back to Utah. In 2008 they found a home in Washington, Utah and enjoyed the many friendships they found there as well

Portia is survived by her four children: Trena (Neil), Joe (Wendy), LeGrand (Jamie & Shana), and Dawn (Michael); and her sisters: Laris and Scarlett.  She is preceded in death by her husband Joseph; sisters: June and Gale; and her brother, Boe.  Portia has been blessed with a wonderful posterity of 18 grandchildren, 48 great grandchildren and 8 great, great grandchildren.

Snookie was a "one of a kind" daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother.  She was a best friend to anyone and all that knew her.  She will be greatly missed.

Graveside services will be at Mapleton Cemetery, Mapleton, Utah.