Neighborly Ties that Bind A Celebration of Enduring Friendship

By Patti Otte

Back in 1973, Canyon Creek’s north side boasted newly built, mid-century modern homes. Trees and yards were freshly planted, as new as the young families moving to the area. Shana Davis Porter and Joni Leavitt McClure purchased houses on Pleasant Valley that year and became next door neighbors. Shana and her family came from West Texas and then Dallas, while Joni moved from the San Francisco Bay area “kicking and screaming” and knowing absolutely no one in her new neighborhood. Shana remembers, “For sure Joni had left her heart in San Francisco.”

A decade apart in age and stage of life, Joni and Shana seemed unlikely friends, but they soon developed a long-lasting relationship. For years the two would walk together each morning, catching up on each other’s lives, talking about dinner and trading recipes. And the friendship extended beyond those early morning hours.

Joni’s daughter babysat Shana’s young son; the two have watered each other’s gar- dens, checked pools, watched for package deliveries, and tended pets during vacation trips. They’ve provided last-minute ingredients for dinner, shared meals, and offered bedrooms for extended family visits. Joni recalls, “We were there when they had a nighttime fire in their home; they were there when I had a flood during a massive rainstorm. We’ve walked the neighborhood for exercise, exchanged recipes, supported each other through the loss of husbands, and though we haven’t been particularly socially involved, we’ve always been there for each other.” Shana adds, “We have shared so many fun times, and we have had our sad times. It has been such a pleasure living next to Joni.”

Joni’s children attended Plano Senior High School and Texas A&M and are now scattered all around the country—Garrett in Florida, Cheri in Seattle, and Todd in Louisville. She has been blessed with five grandchildren and four great-grandchil- dren. An active member of her church and community, Joni has been a NNO block caption for a decade, led a small group at her church for years, and has spent ten-plus years hosting Chinese graduate students from UTD—helping them get settled and introducing them to stores, restaurants and American idioms through ESL (English Second Language) class. She’s also a part of a group of women called the “Merry Mat

Makers” who crochet sleeping mats for the homeless out of plastic grocery bags.

Shana is married to Gary and has two sons: Bart lives in Plano and Todd is in McKinney. She has three grandchildren—two are grown and another is just two years old. Her granddaughter and husband also live in Canyon Creek. Gary has a son Ryan, who lives in Sachse, and a daughter, Erin, in McKinney. Each has one child. Shana is a part of Canyon Creek North Garden Club and has played tennis for forty years at Canyon Creek Country Club at least twice a week. She and Gary enjoy traveling every chance they get. They also vacation with family once a year. Shana has been a realtor with Ebby Halliday since 1990 and has loved her career because many clients have become long-term friends, especially in the Canyon Creek area.

Both women think Canyon Creek is the most amazing place to live: the homes, the comfort of the small community, and the many friends they have both made. When thinking about their many years as neighbors and friends, Joni says it best: “As a widow I've considered moving to senior living—but Shana refuses to let me do so! What a blessing and comfort to have such a delightful, helpful, special, long-time nextdoor neighbor. To me, it's another reason to love living in Canyon Creek!”