Neil Porter

Neil Joseph Porter, 52, of Beaverton, Oregon, passed away peacefully on January 21, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with kidney disease, secondary to Type 1 diabetes. He was born on August 15, 1973, at Tuality Hospital in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Neil spent his entire life in the close-knit communities of Aloha and Beaverton, where he was raised, educated, married, and worked. During his high school years, Neil discovered a love of theater arts and performance. He participated in several musical productions at Aloha High School. There, he developed lifelong friendships. In recent years, he reconnected with many of his high school classmates at local social events, sharing stories from his teenage years.

Neil renewed his Christian faith during high school, finding fellowship at Beaverton Four Square Church, where he participated in youth groups. For the last 20 years, Neil continued his faith journey at Greater Portland Bible Church. He volunteered as the Elementary Coordinator for the Children's Ministry, and gathered supplies from the community for the food pantry.

In 1998, Neil married Rebecca Elms. Their 25-year marriage brought many treasured memories, including the birth and adoption of their beloved daughter, Aleigha Marie. Above all else, Neil’s greatest joy and proudest accomplishment was being Aleigha’s devoted father, including pausing his career to be a loving stay-at-home dad. In his final years, Aleigha, his dog Monet, close friends, and family were constant sources of love and support.

Throughout his life, Neil embodied kindness, thoughtfulness, and integrity. As a young man, he trained as a Beaverton Police cadet. He was also an amazing uncle to his nieces and nephews, never missing an important milestone in their lives.

After earning his associate degree, Neil built a long and successful career across various management roles. Most recently, he worked as an Inventory Manager for Apex Industries, Tigard, Oregon. He fulfilled the role diligently, even while managing dialysis treatments. Those who knew him admired his empathy, humor, and unwavering support. He was a man of conviction, intolerant of hypocrisy, and always led with understanding.

Neil’s interests reflected his colorful spirit: his wardrobe of Oakley hoodies paired with sharp slacks; his fascination with Egyptian history; and his eclectic taste in music, ranging from EDM to Kenny G. He and Aleigha shared a love for Lego kits and live music, especially the concerts they attended together featuring Christian singer Zach Williams.

Neil treasured time with family and continued to seek out new experiences despite the challenges of his illness. In the fall of 2025, he took a road trip with his mother and stepfather to north central Oregon, visiting the Painted Hills, Sisters, and the Columbia River Gorge. He was especially excited about a planned February trip to Las Vegas with his brother, Jason. The trip included tickets to a Def Leppard concert, followed by dinner at his culinary hero’s restaurant, Hell’s Kitchen. Neil also looked forward to seeing the Portland production of Les Misérables in April. It would have marked his third time seeing this musical favorite with his mother, Nancy, and sister-in-law, Shannon.

Neil is survived by his beloved daughter, Aleigha Porter; his mother, Nancy Bond (Dan Koniuck); his father, Donald Porter (Denise Porter); and his siblings: Jason (Shannon Mayfield-Porter), Tracy Taylor (Brad Ledahl), Dana Obringer (Jason Obringer), and Christopher Koniuck. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews—Cooper Loos, Dylan Porter, Avery Porter, Grady Porter, Callahan Porter, Christina Elms, Grace Elms, and Ava Obringer—and by many close lifelong friends and beloved “adopted” nieces and nephews, including Isaac Bland and Violet Bland.

A viewing and cremation were held at Springer & Son Mortuary in Aloha, Oregon, on January 24, 2026. A memorial service will be held at Greater Portland Bible Church, 2374 S.W. Vermont Street, Portland, Oregon, on February 28, 2026, from 2:00–5:00 p.m.

A guilty pleasure for Neil was watching Judge Judy. On his Facebook page, he shared a quote attributed to Judy Sheindlin and Mark Twain:

“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to have a good memory.”

It is a fitting reflection of how he lived—honestly, simply, and with a heart full of love.

Neil’s family is grateful to Fresenius Home Care in Tualatin, Oregon, and to Neil’s treatment team, led by Dr. Maria De Jesus, for their constant encouragement and expertise in helping Neil navigate home dialysis.

Thanks also to the Oregon Health & Science University Transplant Program. Contributions may be made in Neil’s name to “Transplant Patient Care” at:

OHSU Foundation
P.O. Box 29017
Portland, Oregon 97239
http://give.ohsufoundation.org A Memorial Service will be held on February 28, 2006, from 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM at Greater Portland Bible Church 2374 SW Vermont St. The memorial service will be approximately one to one-and-a-half hours and will be immediately followed by a reception at the church. Guests are warmly encouraged to stay, visit, and share their memories of Neil.