Portia Mcnally Halsey

Portia McNally Halsey, beloved wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, died peacefully surrounded with love Sunday, May 26th, 2024, at Baptist Medical Center South. She was 91.

Portia is survived by Kent, her husband of nearly 69 years; their son Mark (Johanna Garry) Halsey of Red Hook, and daughter Elizabeth (Alan) Sproul of Goshen. Portia also leaves to cherish her memory four grandchildren: Justin (Nicole Blasetti) Halsey of New Hope, PA; Trevor Halsey of New Hope, PA; Wesley (Thomas) Mills of Bloomfield, NJ and Mackenzie (Chris) Anderson of Dobbs Ferry, NY. Also surviving are great-grandchildren Alice Renee Halsey and Darby Christine Anderson, and a great grandson due in July.

Born on September 2, 1932, in St. Louis, MO to Eva Moore & Sherman J McNally, Portia knew early that she would be a teacher.

She received her Philosophy degree in 1953 from Grinnell College in Iowa.  She and Kent met on the train out of New York City on the way to Grinnell in 1950, and eventually Kent “pinned” her with his Langan Hall pin.  They became engaged in 1954 and were married in 1955.  Portia's brightest legacy is the tight-knit family she made with Kent in their Nanuet home filled with children, love and laughter.

Portia went on to receive her master’s degree in teaching from Montclair State University, NJ. She taught at S. Madison Elementary School in Spring Valley, NY.

Portia had an unshakable faith in the abilities and delighted in the successes of all her students

The annual Halsey family camping trips produced original songs and jokes still quoted verbatim today. Portia listened in such a way that people told their best stories. She enjoyed people coming together in friendship. Always inquisitive, Portia was an avid reader, teaching her children and grandchildren the magic of books.

She excelled at bridge and loved spending time with her family.  She adored the ocean and spending days at the beach surrounded by family and friends.  She was also an avid cook, always searching out or inventing the next great recipe

She and Kent built a home and circle of friends in Eastham, Cape Cod, and again in St. John’s, Florida.

The family welcomes friends to celebrate Portia’s life at a memorial service at Westminster Woods Julington Creek on Friday, June 21, 2024 at 2 PM in the River Lounge. A party later this summer in the Hudson Valley will be announced to invite all to share stories and love in memory of Portia.

The family thanks Hospice Care at Baptist Medical Center South for their kindness and for tending to Portia in her last days.