Gary Porter

Gary Darryl Porter, resident of Ponca City, passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at the Ponca City Medical Center. He was 64. Gary was born the son of Paul Franklin Porter and Sylvia Odell McWhirt Porter on October 16, 1944 in Ponca City, Oklahoma. He was raised in Osage County. He attended McCord Elementary School and later graduated from Ponca City High School in 1962. He worked in the maintenance department at Northern Oklahoma College while taking classes there as well. He married Connie Sindelar on June 1, 1998 in Eureka Springs. Gary was a carpenter and could build just about anything. He was jack of all trades and he started Honey Do Home Repairs. Gary had several enjoyments. He had a love for music and was singer in the Osage County Bean Can Band. In addition to singing he played the guitar and drums. Gary enjoyed listening to old country music and collecting case knives and cowboy memorabilia. He liked fishing and hunting for arrowheads and could always appreciate a good joke, riddle or song. Gary loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He loved it when they came to spend the night because he knew there would be fried chicken, ice cream and other favorite foods being served. Whether he was taking his grandchildren fishing or spraying his or the neighbors rosebushes he could always be found with a smile. Gary was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and his presence will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife, Connie; sons, Mike Williams of Copan, Oklahoma and Cory Porter of Duncan, Oklahoma; daughter, Karleen Porter of Kansas City, Kansas; step children, Tavia Shea, Carrie Brewer and husband, Monty, and Mike Shea and wife, Nicole; sister, Penny Blass and husband, Steve of Copan, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Tyler, Ashton, Lyric, Ezra, Evan, Lily, Alexandra, Kashli, Kevin, Abby, Devin and Willie; mother in law, Lora Eithel Morland of Ponca City, Oklahoma; brother in law, Jim Sindelar and wife, Janet of Ponca City, Oklahoma; sister in law, Linda Mendenhall and husband, Roger of Medford, Oregon; numerous nieces, nephews, friends and beloved dogs, Lucy, Ethel and Doc. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Kenneth Porter. Honorary bearers are Mike Williams, Cory Porter, Tyler Bohon, Kevin Blass, Steve Blass, Bruce Cook, John Wheeler, Jim Crawford, Stan Combs, Chuck Grimm and John Sindelar. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Life Spring Family Worship Center, 621 W. Grand, with Reverend Phillip Hays officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in Garys honor to Autism Speaks, 5455 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 2250, Los Angeles, California 90036, autismspeaks.org or to the Ponca City Humane Society, P.O. Box 1671, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74602.