Michele K. Porzio

Michele Kathleen Porzio passed away on February 19, 2022.

Michele was born in Inglewood, CA., on February 21, 1958. She was the oldest of four children. In elementary school, she moved with her family to Stateline, NV. Michele was a socially vibrant cheerleader, and had many wonderful friends.
She married her high school sweetheart and moved to Huntsville, AR., to work on his family’s farm where their daughter, Shauna, was born. After a few years, they moved back to Lake Tahoe where they spent winters working in the family ski shop and summers guiding for the family rafting company. Michele loved sharing her skiing and rafting adventures with her young daughter.

Eventually, Michele moved to Grants Pass, OR., where she married again and had her second daughter, Chelsea. She became an RN, working in home health. At the same time, she worked alongside her mother, Lilian, to open The Oregon Outpost gift shop. Michele was determined, intelligent, and creative, accomplishing diverse career goals in her life.
Michele lived for outdoor adventures. It was on a rafting trip down the lower Rogue River where she met the love of her life, Mike Porzio. When they married, she gained three more children, Gina, Becky, and Jon. The happy years that followed brimmed with sporting events, school activities, sleepovers, fishing trips, and campouts. Michele was an energetic, supportive, parent and partner.

During this busy time, Michele recognized a need for more well-trained CNAs in Southern Oregon. She decided to open a CNA school in Josephine County. She designed her own program that was accepted by the State of Oregon. She also secured financial assistance for her students. She was appreciated by her students, and the patients they went on to help.
After Mike and Michele retired they continued to enjoy their favorite pastimes together: camping, fishing, boating, and trips to the coast. Michele was a wizard in the kitchen and had an amazing green thumb. In her later years, she loved spending time baking cookies, picnicking with her grandchildren, and taking walks in the park with her dogs.
Michele led a life filled with adventure and love. She will be deeply missed, but her generous nature and fun loving spirit will live on in those who remember her.

The family will be holding a celebration of her life June, 12, 2022.

If you would like to donate in her name, please donate to the Josephine County Animal Shelter, or the Humane Society.