Myron J. "Mike" Porter, Sr.

Myron J. “Mike” Porter, Sr., 93 went home to be with his Lord, October 4, 2014, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2:00 PM Wednesday, October 8, 2014, at First Baptist Church with Rev. Byron Williamson, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery with military honors courtesy of the U.S. Air Force Blue Knights Honor Guard, Altus AFB, Altus, Oklahoma. Arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Porter was born on December 10, 1920 in Granville Summit, Pennsylvania to Gordon and Maude Porter. He attended and graduated school in Troy, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Troy High School, he enrolled at Albright College. Shortly after, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp, later changing its name to U.S. Air Force. Mike flew fifty missions during WWII . He was stationed in Italy. He served in the European Theatre in the Air Offensive Europe, with missions in Normandy, Ploesti, and Friedrichshafen, Germany. He was awarded with several awards and medals. Among these were the Distinguished Flying Cross, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, Air Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, and two Purple Hearts. Mike’s military career would span over 38 years with active duty and reserve combined. He retired in 1970 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Mike married Dorothy Stone, the love of his life, on September 25, 1943 in Fort Worth. She preceded him in death on May 16, 2014 after 70 years of marriage. Mike was Godly Christian man who was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pampa for over 68 years. He was extremely active in his church. He served as a deacon for several years. Mike served in the Bus Ministry, Children’s Church, New Christian’s Class, the Royal Ambassadors, and the Youth and College Sunday School, all for many years. Mike was a part of the Mission Service Corps and Church Builders that went and helped build churches around the country and Canada. Mike helped build Barrett Baptist Church. He owned his own carpentry company in the 1950’s. In the 1960’s, Mike started working for Transwestern Pipeline, an oil and gas company. He retired from Transwestern Pipeline in 1983 after 22 years of service. Mike was very active in his community. He helped at the Optimist Club, helped start the Tulip House and was a Boy Scouts leader for many years as well. He was a long time member of the VFW Post 1657 and was one of the founders of the Freedom Museum USA here in Pampa, where he served as curator from 1990-2000. Mike was given the Citizen of the Year award in Pampa and is in the Panhandle Veteran’s Hall of Fame. Mike loved to fish, hunt, golf, read the Bible and spend time with his family. He always loved watching his children and grandchildren play sports and other activities. He was a dedicated man to his Lord, family, country, church, community and to his friends. He will be greatly missed. He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, six brothers, and two granddaughters, Becky Porter and Christy McCathern. Survivors include: four daughters, Jan McCathern and husband Glenn and Cheri Patterson and husband, Dan, all of Amarillo, Jeanna Zuniga and husband Daniel and Deanna Polasek and husband, Eugene, all of Pampa; two sons, Myron J. “Mickey” Porter, Jr. and wife Suzie of Layton, Utah and Rod Porter and wife Barbara of Lefors; 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 203 N. West St., Pampa, Texas 79065; VFW Post 1657, 105 S. Cuyler St., Pampa, Texas 79066-2684, or Freedom Museum USA, 600 N. Hobart, Pampa, Texas 79065. The family will receive friends from 6:00 -7:30 PM Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at the funeral home.