Mary Portwood

Hastings resident Mary "Jean" Portwood, 84 1524 Westwood Terrace died Wednesday January 21, 2009 at Mary Lanning Hospital.

Memorial Service is Monday January 26, 2009 11:00 AM at First United Methodist Church in Hastings with Rev. Alan Davis officiating. The family will have a private graveside burial at a later date in Schuyler, NE. The family requests all Memorials be given to the First United Methodist Church, Hastings, or PEO Scholarship Fund.

Jean Portwood was born December 28, 1924 to Mayme (Jicha) and Joseph Varejcka in Schuyler, Nebraska. She married Robert E. Portwood on January 9, 1944, in Lincoln. She accompanied Bob during his final Military training before he was deployed to Europe, and returned to Schuyler, while awaiting his return from WWII. The couple lived in McCook prior to moving to Hastings, in 1954. Mrs. Portwood, a loving wife, homemaker and mother, raised four children, and then worked at Hastings Senior High School on the library staff for many years. Jean volunteered at Mary Lanning Hospital and was involved in several service organizations including; United Methodist Women, a member of Chapter FH PEO and Worthy Matron of Acacia #39 Hastings Order of the Eastern Star (1971). She served the Grand Chapter of Nebraska as Grand Electra (1974-1975) Past President of Hastings Past Matrons Club.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents Joe and Mayme Varejka, husband Bob and sister Dorothy Crosbie.

She is survived by daughters Barbara Bollinger of Surprise, AZ, Carol Nicolarsen of Cheyenne, WY, sons Douglas of Cypress, TX, and Richard of Hastings. Jean has ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.