CL Porter

                                                                      CL Porter

                                                             7/29/1943 - 10/23/2023

The world lost a bright light when CL Porter, 80, of La Plata, Maryland, passed away on Monday, October 23, 2023.

She was born July 29, 1943, in The Dalles, Oregon, to parents Corliss and Charles D. Peterson.  She grew up with her mother and two younger brothers, and considered her stepfather, Donald Ross, to be her dad. 

CL was a powerhouse of a woman, with a range of skills and interests as wide as her heart. She was a caretaker of animals and people, extending kindness and shelter, even in tough times. She spent much of the last 20 years caring for her aging mother and ill brothers.  She had business savvy and mentored dozens in her field over the years; she was a crackle of creativity, country line dancer, and lover of “statement” earrings. CL could find the funny in any situation the way she could find the best treasures in any thrift store. She once proclaimed, “Why would I go anywhere to have a bad time?”

CL Porter was an extremely successful real estate broker, licensed in MD, DC and VA.  She managed offices for several well known companies in her 45 plus years in the field.  In 2001, she and her partner/future husband, Ron bought Re/Max Colonial Homes, Inc.

In 2013, she went to her first Art Retreat with her daughter where her creativity was sparked. She made lasting friendships with a network of people who shared her wild creative streak.  Art became a staple in her life and helped her heal the tragic loss of her son to cancer in 2018. In 2019 her daughter opened a shop selling local artwork and handmade goods where CL’s work was shared with a larger audience.

CL is preceded in death by her parents, her son Corey Porter, her infant daughter, Nissa Lynn Burnett, and sister-in-law Linda Kunsman. She is survived by her husband, Ron Mellott; her daughter, Chelsea Weiss (Peter) of Frederick, MD; her brothers, Larry Peterson and William Kunsman; her step-children Melinda Mellott & Mark Mellott (Elizabeth); her nephew William Kunsman Jr. (Mary Ann); her grandchildren Lily, Scarlett and Caroline.

Her family is arranging a Celebration of Life in the Spring of 2024.

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