James Elton Porter

James Elton Porter, age 89, of Alexander passed away Monday, March 24, 2025. He was born January 10, 1936 in Manning, Arkansas to the late James Earl and Lela (Everett) Porter. Friends and family knew him as “Porter”. Porter was a current and faithful member of Northside Church of Christ in Benton. He was a retired employee of United States Geological Survey (USGS) for 40 plus years. Porter was a mathematician and spent countless hours surveying and monitoring the streams and rivers of Arkansas. Porter’s greatest hobbies included golfing with his friends and cheering on the Razorbacks. He actually attended the first War Memorial Razorback football game. He and his wife, Nelma, were in attendance at Cracker Barrel’s opening day in Bryant, Arkansas and did not miss many days after the opening. Porter took great joy and poured love into all of his nieces and nephews. Together, he and Nelma enjoyed drives all over Arkansas enjoying the natural beauty of our state. Porter’s Christian faith was an example to everyone that he met.

Porter was preceded in death by his parents, James Earl and Lela (Everett) Porter; daughter, Deana Renee Porter; sister, Alla Merle (Porter) Buck, and brother-in-law, Roy Slaughter.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nelma (Slaughter) Porter of Alexander; sisters, Katie (Porter) Keeton (Hancel) of Sherwood and Nancy (Porter) Freeman (Tommy) of Arkadelphia; sister-in-law, Barbara Slaughter; nephews, Joe Keeton, Dean Slaughter, Scott Freeman, Jerry Buck, Kenneth Buck, Mark Bear, Neal Buck, and Chad Slaughter; nieces, Diana (Keeton) Harper, Carol (Slaughter) Boulden, and Holly (Freeman) McElyea; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews who will miss him dearly.

Visitation will be 1:00-2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 29, 2025 at Northside Church of Christ in Benton. Funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m. with Jim Gardner officiating. Interment will be at 5:00 p.m. at DeLamar Cemetery in Manning. 

Special thank you to the staff of Encore Heart Hospital. 

Arrangements are by Smith Family Funeral Home-Arkadelphia, www.smithfamilycares.com.