Tom Porter Obituary

Tom Porter Tom Porter, 87, of Sunrise Beach, MO, passed away on November 13, 2014, at Lake Regional Health System in Osage Beach, MO, after a short illness. Tom was born October 31, 1927, at Bethany Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas to Claude and Nancy Pearle (Thedick) Porter. He moved from Kansas City to Sunrise Beach in 1954, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a custom home builder for more than 40 years working on properties throughout the lake area. Tom was a veteran of World War II in which he served in the U.S. Navy as an aerographer's mate stationed at Kaneohe Naval Air station in Hawaii. Tom was very involved in his church, Kent Memorial Lutheran, where he served in numerous capacities throughout his life. He was also involved in his community as part of the Boy Scouts, Lions, Elks and American Legion as well as being one of the first Emergency Medical Technicians serving as a volunteer for the first Sunrise Beach volunteer ambulance service. One of Tom's passions was education. Tom served on the Camdenton R-III School Board for 27 years from 1960-1987 serving the last 12 as Board President. His tenure on the Board made him the longest serving Board member in Camdenton R-III history and one of the longest serving board members ever in the State of Missouri. In the later years of his life, Tom volunteered with pre-school students at Hurricane Deck Elementary School sharing his life's experiences with a new generation of youth. Tom was preceded in death by his wife of 38 years, Marge Porter and his wife of 20 years, Jackie Porter as well as his granddaughter Carla Sitze Rodriguez. He is survived by his sister Mary Stanton (Bernard) of Kansas City, his daughter Cynthia Howard (Chuck) of Kansas City, his son Barney Porter of Sunrise Beach, his son David Porter (Lydia) of Kansas City and his daughter, Cheryl Smith (Joe) of Hardeeville, SC. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Private family services will be held. Expressions of sympathy may be left online at www.kidwellgarber.com. Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Kidwell-Garber Laurie/Sunrise Beach Chapel.