Don Irving Porter

Don Irving Porter, 85
Don Irving Porter, 85, passed from this life on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, at his home in Piñon. Mr. Porter was born Feb. 7, 1925, to Dan H. and Pearl Porter in Central, now known as Santa Clara. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Earl Porter, of Arizona; and two sisters, Evelyn Hardison and Ethel Case, of Oklahoma.
After the death of his father in 1934, Irving came to Otero County just south of Piñon and made his home with and was raised by his aunt and uncle Martha and Owen Prather. From that time he was a sheep rancher until his poor health and predators forced him out of the sheep business. He continued to run cattle at his ranch with the help of good neighbors until the time of his passing.
Upon graduation from Weed High School, Irving joined the Army, where he served in Germany during and after World War II. Being a veteran of World War II afforded him a lifetime of memories and stories.
Mr. Porter was lovingly known as "Irv" to his surviving family, including his wife of 62 years, Lessie Porter, of the family home; and two daughters, Cindy Goslin and her husband, Drew, of Piñon, and Toni and her husband, Carroll Vann, of High Rolls. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Tara Skinner and her husband, Cody, of Artesia; Cody Goslin, of Granbury, Texas; and Jeremy Rowe, of Los Angeles, along with the lights of his life, his great-grandchildren Presley and Zane Skinner, of Artesia. Survivors also include a brother, Edwin, and his wife, Mary, of Mangum, Okla.; and sisters Eleanor and her husband, Carol, of Sentinel, Okla., and Edith Avery, of Sebastopol, Calif., as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010, at Piñon Cemetery with Eddy Coleman officiating. A reception will follow at the Piñon Community Building.
Pallbearers include Jake Van Winkle, Alton Munson, Arden Lewis, Alvie Smith, Odie Prather, Victor Gaba and Mike Gaba. Honorary pallbearers will be all of Irv's caring friends and neighbors.
The family would like to extend their appreciation to Alamogordo Home Care Hospice.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Hamilton-O'Dell Funeral Home. To sign the online register book, please visit www.hamiltonodell.com.