Jane Drexel Vale Porteous

Family-Placed Obituary

JANE DREXEL VALE PORTEOUS Jane Drexel Vale Porteous passed away on Monday, November 24 in St. Johns, Florida after a short illness at the age of 79. Jane was the great-granddaughter of Anthony J. Drexel, banker and partner of J.P. Morgan and founder of Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. She was the daughter of John Roset Drexel, Jr. and Jane Barbour Drexel. Jane had lived in Southern Pines, NC since she was 6 years old and was fondly called 'Boo Boo' by her brother, the late David A. Drexel, and many of her closest friends. She was married to Harry Marshall Vale, Jr. in 1948 living at Aralu and then Indian Springs until Harry's death in 1964. Jane married John Porteous II (now deceased) a few years later and moved to Palm Beach, Florida. Jane had recently moved to St. Johns, Florida to be close to her children living there. Her family and friends remember her for her very loving spirit and great sense of humor as she was always the 'life of the party'. She was an amazing and beautiful woman and mother who deeply instilled in all of her children an appreciation and a passion for nature and the world which she had traveled extensively. She is survived by four of her children, Iris 'Fifi' Vale Cheek of Portland,OR, Jacqueline Vale Rutherford, John Drexel Vale and Louis Drexel Porteous all of St. Johns, Florida; nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Her daughter, Elizabeth Vale Arens, preceded her in death. The family will celebrate Jane's life at a small memorial service at sea off the coast of St.Augustine, Florida on December 14 to bid her farewell. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that any donations be made to Greenpeace To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries