Ross Porter

Ross Joseph Porter, 84, passed away on February 3, 2009, at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa.

Ross is a descendant of Mayflower Pilgrim Richard Warren, through his Powell / Tilden / Little / Warren ancestry. In September of 1855, Ross' great grandparents, Edward Porter and Clarissa Richardson Powell, migrated by covered wagon from Stark County, Illinois, and settled in Cass County, Iowa. The village of Reno was platted in 1876 and the plat was recorded on August 24, 1877, by Edward Porter. In addition, Edward Porter donated land for the Reno Cemetery, where several generations of Porter kinfolk were buried.

The only son in a family of eight daughters, Ross was born in Edna Township, Cass Co., Iowa, on June 8, 1924, to Joseph Edwin Porter and Goldie (Logue) Porter. From long-ago memories, a few elderly relatives recall that Ross had professed as a teenager, that he had come to know the Lord. Ross related that sometime thereafter, he and a boyhood friend had baptized one another in the Nodaway River.

Ross served in World War II. In 1943, he was seriously injured when his parachute failed to open while making a jump with other paratroopers. His back was broken in three places. Ross was determined to recover, and he did.

Ross Joseph Porter married Betty Ruth Stevens on December 30, 1946, and they became the parents of two sons and three daughters.

Ross was amongst the old-timers in the development of a line of Mountain Cur hounds, and as a result, his photograph albums contained ninety-nine percent more pictures of dogs, than of people.

Ross Porter was also a collector of old stuff. Although he highly valued unique antiques, he laughingly admitted that he loved 'the hunt' for old stuff, even more than the rare possession that he had finally acquired.

By trade, he was a carpenter. Ross 'thought in pictures,' and would frequently awaken in the middle of the night to sketch a complex design for a cupboard or other woodworking project, which he had been thinking about in his sleep.

Ross is survived by his son, Richard Porter and his wife, Marlene of Texas; his three daughters, Cathy Porter-Maynard and her husband, David Maynard of Minnesota, Cheryl and her husband, Mike Pross of Montana, and Anita and her husband, Martin Mundorf of Iowa; an abundance of grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews; and many treasured friends. Ross is also survived by his sisters, Jeanne (Arnie) Petersen, Janelle Swafford, Ramona Harris, Shirley (Robert) Cranston, Charlotte (Richard) Slaby and Sharon (Larry) Ainsworth.

Ross was preceded in death by his father and mother; his son, Robert Luther Porter; and his sisters, Doris (Glen) Knee and Lois Porter.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 7, 2009, in the chapel at Hockenberry Family Care, in Atlantic, Iowa. An open visitation will be held. The family invites friends to join them for refreshments at Hockenberry Family Care, following the funeral service and prior to services at the cemetery.

Ross Joseph Porter will be buried in the Reno Cemetery in rural Cass County, Iowa, where his son, grandparents, great grandparents, and many other family members and friends have been laid to rest over the past 150 years.

Honorary Casket Bearers are: Bob and Norma Jean Lindeman, Jack and Canda Woods, Kenny and Terry Risley, Richard Porter, David Maynard, Martin G. Mundorf and Mike Pross.

Memorials may be made to the Reno Methodist Cemetery, in care of Mariam Stewart-Trustee, 67242 Wichita Road, Cumberland, Iowa 50843, to help with the ongoing maintenance of the cemetery.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.