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Greg Porter Obituary
He was born in Hammond, Indiana on September 1, 1959 to Viola and Roy Porter. Greg attended Highland High School before studying business at Indiana State University, sharing a class with Larry Bird. He had an extremely successful career, working for nearly two decades at JCPenney where he met his best friend and wife Sus. He then spent five years with Kmart before moving to Tennessee to begin his 17-year tenure with AutoZone. Greg was most proud of the life-long friendships he made throughout his career.
Greg was a Chicago sports fanatic - most passionate about the Bears, Cubs, Blackhawks, and Indiana Hoosiers. He loved spending his time on the golf course, whether it was mowing the greens at Memphis National or teeing off at the Michigan Masters, where he created a 30+ year tradition and experience that impacted his group and friendships more than he would ever know. He routinely volunteered at golf tournaments including the St. Jude Classic and multiple US Opens. Just like life, he took the highs and lows of his game in stride.
Greg and Sus were married for 37 years, together for more than 40. Sus has lost her compass. He was Superman to his three children Erin, Carlie, and Jack. He was a dog parent to Murphy, Buster, Brodie, and Sully. Most importantly, he was an extremely proud Pa to his three grandchildren, Macie, Logan, and Jack or as he called them - May, Lo, and Jack Jack.
He is preceded in death by his father Thomas Roy Porter, Susie's parents Judy and Marty Quish, his nephew Jacob, and many loved ones. He leaves behind his "Ma" Viola, his wife Susie, their three children Erin, Carlie, and Jack, their spouses Donny, Austin, and Jordan, his grandchildren May, Lo, and Jack Jack, his siblings Tom Porter and Diane Homans and their spouses Pam & Jim, Susie's brother Kevin Quish and his wife Kathy and numerous extended family members, friends, and colleagues that he loved like family.
In lieu of flowers, his family kindly requests donations be made in Greg's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which he consistently supported, or Myakka Elephant Ranch, where he was looking forward to caring for the elephants with his grandkids in the spring.
Funeral mass will be held on Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 10:30 am at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, located at 3025 Highway Avenue, Highland, IN 46322. A luncheon will be held following the service at The Original John's Pizzeria, located at 247 Ridge Road, Munster, IN 46321.
Our lives will never be the same.
"You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave." - Hotel California, The Eagles
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Walter Sawher
December 18, 2023
I worked with Greg at his most recent job at AutoZone. He built a great team. I remember Greg as not only fun loving while at work but also serious enough that we achieved all our goals. As a team, we would always celebrate holidays- especially Thanksgiving and Christmas with team lunches and potlucks. Greg was also an avid golfer and stalwart supporter of the FedEx St. Jude Championship. It was fun and an honor working with him as a volunteer. I´ll forever have memories of our good times and will miss him dearly. Rest in peace, my brother.
Dan Barzel
December 13, 2023
Greg was the consummate merchant....he loved his job and he loved to teach others....a true teacher of the trade....
Besides being so capable, he had a big heart and strived to be a role model to those he worked with...He loved his family and GOLF!!
I really enjoyed working with Greg - his optimism shined through every day...
He will be sorely missed...but I will always remember the good times and will keep those memories close....RIP Greg...
Toya Boagn
December 11, 2023
Aww, I'm going to miss my dear friend Greg. I just received the news today and this just crushed my heart. Greg was a great AutoZoner and a Friend, anytime I had any questions about Merchandising he was a phone call away. I worked in the mailroom, and he treated me like the CEO. I'm going to really miss him.
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Chuck
December 11, 2023
Greg was a great friend and fellow associate at JCPenney in Peoria, Ill.
We shared a ton of laughs together and also more than a few beers. One of my fond memories of Greg and Susie was them showing up to a Halloween party in their bumble bee outfits. not sure but I think it was from a Saturday night live skit.
Greg was one of the good guys! Great humor, Great laugh, so sorry to hear of his passing.
The Kunkels
December 8, 2023
So sorry for Erin and her family's loss. It has been so nice to read the outpouring of stories from those who knew Greg. We are hoping you find comfort at this time of loss and our condolences.
Corey Baker
December 7, 2023
Greg Porter was one of the most genuine, down-to-earth leaders I have had the pleasure of working with during my career. I remember being new to the world of Merchandising and Greg quickly made me feel welcomed as part of the team. The first conversation I had with him was at a team outing at a Redbirds game. I was not yet "officially" part of the Brakes team, but he made sure to include me nonetheless. Greg often stopped by my desk to ask me "analyst" questions, and by the time we were finished we would be talking about family, golf, or the Bears. Greg had an infectious smile and laughed often. He truly lived the AutoZone pledge and values and was an encouragement for so many to do the same. I am grateful I had the opportunity to know Greg and work under his leadership. He will be missed.
Kelly Smith
December 7, 2023
Sending my condolences and prayers to the Porter Family. Greg Porter was a remarkable man. He loved his family and genuinely connected with people. Our loss is truly Heaven's gain. I am so glad to have worked with you. Rest well, Greg! All the best to your family. Treasure the memories. There must be so many. God bless you
Olivia Jackson
December 7, 2023
Greg was my first Director when I started my professional career at AutoZone. I noticed right away how much he cared for the people on his team. He was the boss everyone wanted, someone who would advocate for you, offer advice, and have a lot of laughs with. My favorite memories of Greg were talking at our team table over lunch and our shared love of the TV show Big Brother. I stayed in contact with him even after I left AutoZone. He checked in on how my family and myself were doing. My heart goes out to his entire family. The amount of people who have shared their stories of how he impacted their lives for the better is a testament to the great man he was. Sending love from Tampa, Olivia
Steve Stoll
December 7, 2023
I have worked with few that truly care personally about people they work for and with. For Greg, it wasnt about memorizing birthdays and family member names.
For him it was about doing things that we all already knew how to do. Acknowledging that we are all people with lives and aspirations that extend beyond those related to our shared work. About finding time for real conversations; about getting to know each other at a human level; about learning what´s important to people; about sharing with one another what makes us want to get out of bed in the morning and go to work-and what has the opposite effect.
Greg was a fantastic AutoZoner but for me he was an unbelievable human being. We need more people like "G-Man" in this world
Justin Moore
December 7, 2023
Greg will be so missed. He taught me a lot about business and life. I am thankful to have known Greg, Rest Well.
Ramona Johnson-Medearis
December 7, 2023
I worked with Greg at Autozone and he was an amazing and kind man with a genuine heart of gold. Condolences to his family.
Randy Grove
December 7, 2023
So saddened to learn of Greg´s sudden passing. My condolences to the entire Porter family as our families go back many decades.
Todd Hammett
December 6, 2023
Greg was a friend to me first and foremost. Working with him was a pleasure as he treated everyone fairly and with the utmost respect. I will miss him greatly. His family will be in my prayers.
Milton Peters
December 6, 2023
Greg was always smiling, helpful, laughing and brightened everyone's path he crossed. Grateful to have met and worked with him. God bless his family and God rest his soul. You will be missed Greg.
David Hilburn
December 6, 2023
Lost a great friend. I don´t think I ever witnessed Greg at any moment without a smile on his face. World lost a great person who people loved to be around. God bless entire family and prayers are with you.
Kristen Mitchell Ballard
December 6, 2023
To know Greg was to love him. He was an AutoZoner to the core. He was one of the few that kept the energy light and fun loving while always meaning business. What an extraordinary human of great character. You will be missed Greg!
Brandi Gardner
December 6, 2023
I remember when Greg joined AutoZone and I was assigned to "train" him. I had been at AutoZone about a year and was an assistant category manager still learning how to manage a category, and navigate a corporate environment. He had so much to teach me, so I always found it funny when he would tell people I trained him. More than a decade later when he would tell others how we met, he always said, I trained him. Maybe I taught him how to use our systems, but he was the true teacher.
Greg set the example for all of us on how to show others we care about them. Everything he did was rooted in caring for others. He would always be there to make new AutoZoners feel welcomed and help them navigate their role and AutoZone. He would make laps around the different teams just to say hello, and connect with others.
I am truly grateful for my many years with Greg. And I will carry the memories and lessons he shared with me always.
I am comforted in knowing he is with his dear friend Jerry, smiling down on us all.
My sincerest condolences to the entire family.
Hayden Woodmansee
December 6, 2023
Greg Porter was my first ever Corporate America boss, but it never felt that way because of his personality. As someone who was nervous about working in a corporate environment with no expectations, Greg made the transition a smooth one. Greg welcomed me to his team at AutoZone as a Supply Chain intern and made me feel like family and a member of the team immediately. After my Summer internship Greg and I kept in touch via text message, and he always made it a point to ask how I was doing as a person with work and school coming second. Although I didn´t immediately start working at AutoZone after completing college, Greg and I remained in touch. Greg Porter is the reason I am an AutoZoner now, and I will forever be grateful for that. Thanks for everything, Greg, you will be dearly missed.
Ken Klein
December 5, 2023
I worked with Greg, where for years he managed a couple of the largest , most important categories at AutoZone. A great deal of success for those that worked with him (me included), as well as the company overall were in part because of his relentless effort.
He was able to have great success at work navigating the bureaucracy of a fortune 500 company (258 actually) where ALL eyes were on the performance of his critically important huge categories, every week.
Greg had a strong work ethic and was usually one of the first to arrive to the building every day.... I would always text him before I left in the morning asking how traffic was, especially on snow days.
He was absolutely loved by all , coworkers , friends family and suppliers... was a champion for his team. Just a genuine down to earth man with great humility and unwavering integrity. He was an example and mentor to many by the way he conducted himself.... And Greg was `chill´ and didn´t sweat the small stuff. He knew what was most important in life ... family.
I treasure the time we worked together and the ongoing texts (still on my phone) that we traded from time to time , mostly about football, retirement and family. On one recent text we talked about the Bears and how he and Jack were 6000 on the waiting list for season tickets and he wondered if the Bears would be respectable by then after "38 years of drinking the Koolaid" as he put it.
I can only imagine that God recruited Greg back so that he could help spread peace, love and calm in the world from above ... and perhaps maintain the heavenly greens
I know he´s up there now having a drink with his good friend Jerry
Jessica Melton
December 5, 2023
So deeply saddened by the loss of Greg. He was always warm, friendly, and had an uplifting spirit even in the midst of chaos. Our AutoZone family will miss him dearly.
My sincerest condolences to the family from his other family - AZ
Shannon Cook
December 5, 2023
So very sorry for your family's loss. I worked with Greg at AutoZone. He had a BIG personality and I know he will be missed. Prayers for your family.
Jay and Sheila Southard
December 5, 2023
God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Ian Braunstein
December 5, 2023
So saddened by this loss. I met Greg while he was at AutoZone. We spent quality time together, and shared in a trip to China. We maintained contact after his retirement, and his witty texts will be sorely missed.
He was simply awesome. He selflessly inspired so many of his colleagues and vendors, and there are so many of us who share the sadness in this all too sudden loss. The world needs more Greg´s.
May memories and blessings help ease your pain.
An inspiration to so many...
Ian, Montreal, Canada
Cathy Norman
December 5, 2023
Greg is one of the good ones. Loved to talk to you about our kids, sports and much more. Blessed to have worked with you for many years. Prayers for your beautiful family.
The Staff of Michels and Lundquist Funeral Home
December 5, 2023
Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.
Ashley Harrison
December 4, 2023
Greg was loved by absolutely everyone he encountered. He touched so many lives and made work so much fun, even on the days that were tough. He taught us all to take life less seriously and to love deeply. He was a mentor to me while at AutoZone and taught me the life lessons that have molded me today. His love for his family was evident as he always lit up when talking about them. He truly will be missed. Humans don´t get better than Greg Porter. Many prayers to his family.
Lynn Melton
December 4, 2023
Greg was a caring/giving person
I worked with Greg at AutoZone
He will be missed
Jim Atchley
December 4, 2023
Was one of best buyers that in my 45 plus years of selling was able to get what he had to get with the understanding of the manufacturer and what they needed also. Every manufacturer I worked with enjoyed working with Greg because it was always a win win for both parties.
Jim Atchley
December 4, 2023
Greg said to me when went to Vegas for our annual show, he wanted to win a $1000 for new golf clubs. He ask me how to do that, and I told to put $250 on black at the roulette table, and when you win that, let all ride and leave it on black and when you win that, then put it all on red and when you win that take that $1000 and buy your new golf clubs, and he texted me and said" Jim I did what you said and WON" and I said fantastic, then he said "BUT I only put down $50! I got scared and didn´t do the $250"!!! I can´t tell what I said to him after that!! Got to love that man!
Andy Davis
December 4, 2023
Susie, Erin, Carlie, Jack and Viola and the rest of the Porter family, I am so very sorry for your loss. God bless you and your family. Greg was a great friend and fabulous golf buddy. Certainly, was our compass north to the Michigan Masters. Leaving a pic of #17 Gull Lake East here.... With deepest sympathies Andy Davis
Tina Reynolds
December 4, 2023
Greg was one of my favorite people. I had the pleasure of working with him for most of his tenure at AZ before he retired. He was not just a coworker. He was a friend. Greg was a bright light on a dark day. A comedian when you needed a good laugh. A mentor when you needed direction. A kind and thoughtful friend. He made an impact on my life. He will always be in my heart.
My prayers to Sus, Jack, Carlie, and Erin. Greg loved you all beyond measure.
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