(December 22nd, 1948 – July 4th, 2021)
James David Porter was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 22, 1948, the second of three children born to James and Madelyn Harper Porter. He passed from this life on Sunday, July 4, 2021, after a courageous 14-year battle with cancer at home surrounded by his family.
A celebration of his life is planned for 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 17th at Iredell United Methodist Church. Fellowship and visitation with the family is to follow along with lunch at the Iredell Community Center.
David grew up in Iredell, Texas, where he graduated from Iredell High School in 1967, Hill Junior College and later Tarleton State College in 1971. He married Sandra Jenkins Porter on November 22, 1975, moving to Stephenville, Texas, where they made their home. David worked in construction most of his life – helping to build the power plant on Lake Granbury then working at Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant from 1975 until his retirement in 2014. This was a temporary job that lasted almost 40 years!
David enjoyed building all things. It is difficult to decide if his proudest work was a wooden ski boat that provided a lot of fun and good memories with friends and family at the lake, the hydroplane boats he built with friends and raced on area lakes, furniture that family still enjoys, or the metal frame home that he started that family is working to finish. He enjoyed working with cars and lots of memories are from his son Matthew’s racing days. He was a dirt track fan especially of the winged sprint cars that Matthew raced. David built his own car too but was never able to get it on a track due to health concerns. And he was constantly tinkering with Ol’ Green his 1970 Chevy pickup that was his pride and joy! After his father’s passing, David helped his mother on the family farm and worked with his own herd of goats and cattle. Fishing and camping – especially down on the Bosque after a good rain and hunting were pastimes he enjoyed.
He was a member of Iredell United Methodist Church and served as song leader until his health made it difficult to sing. He loved music – especially old country music and enjoyed spending time on the dance floor when opportunity arose. Traveling was enjoyed also, and David was quick to board a plane or cruise ship for rest and relaxation with his family. He fiercely loved his friends and family and was someone that could be counted on to help if anyone needed his assistance. He will be missed greatly by many.
David is preceded in death by his parents, James and Madelyn Porter; his mother and father-in-law, Juanita and Norman Jenkins; his brother-in-law, David Jenkins; aunt and uncle, Barbara and Dub Tolliver; and uncle, Joe Dale Porter.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Sandra; children, Matthew and wife April Porter of Stephenville; Melanie Porter of Austin; the light of his life – his granddaughter, Sarah Porter of Stephenville. David is also survived by his sisters Charlotte (Stewart) Myers of Iredell and Cindy (Steve) McCoy of Somerville; aunt Jean Hulbert of Bend, OR; brother-in-law Randall (Lela) Jenkins of Mesquite; and numerous nieces, nephews, and many lifetime friends.
The family will be forever grateful for the kindness and care given to David over the years by the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders (Dr. Nicole Bartosh, Elizabeth, Brenda, Dani and staff), Dr. Shane Gilliam, Dr. Kevin Vanden Berge, and the angels from Solaris Hospice and Tina Witt who cared for him in his last days, David Tomlinson and Stephenville Funeral Home, and Claude Estes and the staff at Skyvue Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Iredell United Methodist Church – mailing address 15136 State Hwy 6 Iredell, TX 76649 or Iredell Community Center mailing address – 14046 State Hwy 6 Iredell, TX 76649.
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