Thora Duke Porter

Thora Duke Porter, 93, wife of the late Theodore Owen Porter, passed away Friday June 11, 2004. Thora, the eldest daughter to Effa Skousen and Charles Albert Duke was born March 23, 1911 in Lethbridge Alberta Canada. Thora's family had a great pioneer heritage and she was a life long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Her family moved from Provo, Utah to the Valley of the Sun in 1923, where she lived most of her adult life. After high school Thora attended BYU for two years, due to the war and the depression she had to return to Arizona to help the family. In 1942 she met and married Emmert Shaver and their son David was born in 1944. After the war, a single mother, Thora returned to college at Tempe Normal (ASU) and received her BS in education. She taught in the Washington School District in Phoenix until 1960 when she met and married Theodore Owen Porter, thereby inheriting a new large family. Owen was teaching at Mesa High School in Mesa, and the couple moved to there new home in Mesa. Thora transferred to the Scottsdale school district where she finished her teaching career. As a youth Thora's family was quite musical and she was in the family band often playing for church dances and activities. Her love of music was shared by Owen, and the two of them spent many happy hours playing their violins, the piano and singing together. Besides the love of music and teaching, Thora and Owen were avid "rockhounds". They did a lot of traveling around the country after they retired looking for special rocks and gems. Thora was a very generous woman. Her family and friends were blessed by her generosity as she was always there to lend a loving, caring hand. She had a spare bedroom that was rarely empty. After all was said and done, for all her loves, her love of the Gospel and her family were paramount. Thora is preceded in death by her sister Berniece Richmond, and her brothers Charles Dean Duke, Woodrow Skousen Duke, and Bernard Duke. She is survived by her youngest brother James R. Duke, her son David, "Duke" Shaver, her granddaughter and primary caregiver, Kimberley M. Shaver and grandson Charles Albert Shaver. Thora is also survived by her stepdaughter Marilyn Davis, 13 grandchildren 20 great grand children and 3 great great grandchildren. She will also be missed by her 10 loving nieces and nephews. IT IS ALL GOOD! Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 from 5-7:00 PM, Bunker's Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 16, 2004 at 10:00 A.M., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mesa Centennial Ward, 422 E. University Dr., Mesa, AZ with visitation one hour prior to services.