Charlotte Porter Reem

September 18, 1932 - February 6, 2022

Charlotte Porter Reem was born in Mathis, Texas to Milby Leeland Porter and Frances Hamilton Walker. Raised in a farming and ranching community, surrounded by grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, Charlotte learned the value of hard work and caring for others. This quote by John Wesley was always displayed prominently in her own home and Charlotte lived her life by this creed “Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.” Charlotte graduated with honors from Southwest Texas State University and began her teaching career in Victoria, Texas. She met her beloved husband, Dayton Rudy Reem there, and they married at the First Methodist Church of Mathis on June 15, 1957. Rudy’s family from New York traveled to Mathis for the wedding and were given a warm Texas welcome. His family talked about this wonderful weekend for many years. Settling in Victoria, the couple had two daughters. Charlotte made certain that her girls had every opportunity for enrichment she could provide. From art lessons, to choir, to horseback riding, ballet, and girl scouts, she took them to it all. A weekly trip to the library was always a special event. In 1972, the Reems moved to Nassau Bay, Texas. Charlotte enjoyed taking her family to the theater and museums, taking advantage of all Houston had to offer. She also made sure each daughter had a European experience-urging them to see the world from a bigger perspective. She and Rudy delighted in traveling the world on trips she meticulously planned. One of their favorite trips, was a yearly pilgrimage to Woodstock, Vermont in the fall. Charlotte led by example in giving to others. She worked tirelessly for her church, in Victoria and at Clear Lake United Methodist Church. She worked on campaigns for the American Cancer Society and volunteered for over 40 years in the patient education department of M.D. Anderson. She drove Meals on Wheels and was a Stephen Minister, aiding all where she could. She was the first to organize meals and help for those in need in her community. She and Rudy began one of the first Pumpkin Patch fundraisers, later incorporating the Heifer Project into it, and took yearly mission trips to rebuild Methodist churches in Arkansas. Charlotte was extremely artistic. She was a member of the Nassau Bay Garden Club and created award winning arrangements. She gardened, painted, and entertained with ease, setting beautiful tables with blooms from her yard. She often included those without a place to go at family holiday dinners. She loved her family and friends dearly. She and Rudy took their grandchildren on a yearly trip to be sure she got to know each of them well. The grandchildren remember these times fondly and recall “Gran’s Rules,” which involved afternoon quiet time for reading without argument! Charlotte and Rudy moved to San Antonio several years ago to be closer to their daughters. She died Sunday, January 6 after an extended illness, a mere 2 weeks after her husband of 65 years, Rudy. This verse aptly describes the devotion between them “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from following you. For where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. When you die, I will die and there I will be buried.” Ruth 1:16-17 Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband, Dayton Rudy Reem; parents, Milby and Frances Porter and sisters Joyce Porter Henneke and Mary Alta Porter. She is survived by her daughters, Susanne Cooper and husband Louis-San Antonio and Kathryn Richard and husband Jude-Austin; grandchildren, Zac and Charlotte Cooper, Ben and Caroline Richard and numerous nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the loving care given to Charlotte by Brittany Gilbert and Dignified Care along with VITAS Hospice. A service celebrating Charlotte and Rudy’s lives will be held at 11:00 AM on March 19 at Alamo Heights United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to thewomensalzheimersmovement.org. You may sign the online guestbook at www.missionparks.com under the obituary section.