Wayne Ralph Porter

Dec. 22, 1912-Aug. 21, 2004

Wayne Ralph Porter of Lafayette died Saturday, Aug. 21, 2004, in Lafayette, Colo.

He was 91 years old.

Mr. Porter was born Dec. 22, 1912, to Almer Porter and Elsie May in Winona, Kan.

On Aug. 23, 1933, he married Gladys Sharrah Porter in Colorado. The couple later divorced.

On Aug. 23, 1980, he married Vera Jirik Porter in Lafayette. She died in 1988.

On April 4, 1992, he married Betty Weese Porter in Lafayette.

Mr. Porter farmed in Nebraska for 42 years.

After moving to Colorado, he was employed at Wal-Mart in Lafayette for 15 years, where he was recognized as the second oldest Wal-Mart employee in the United States.

He was a member of the Lafayette Lions Club.

He was twice named "Citizen of the Week" by the Lafayette News.

Mr. Porter enjoyed fishing, traveling to the mountains and his family.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Weese Porter; his son, Leo of Wauneta; daughters, Leota Brown of Trenton and Sandra Warvi of Cheyenne, Wyo; step-daughter, Debra Hamilton of Cheyenne; step-sons, Dan DeWitt of Meeker, Colo., Rick DeWitt of Berthoud, Colo.; sisters, Alma Williams of Pueblo, Colo., Edith Berndt of Brush, Colo., and Irene Powers of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; 15 grandchildren; and 41 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Gladys; former wife, Vera Jirik Porter; step-mother, Clara Porter; infant son, Matthew; and his sister, Louise.

Visitation was Aug. 25, at First United Methodist Church, 1255 Centaur Village Dr., Lafayette. The memorial service followed with the Rev. Linda Wells officiating. Interment was in the Lafayette Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, 2594 Trailridge Drive East, Lafayette, CO 80026 or at www.hospicecareonline.org

Darrell Howe Mortuary of Lafayette handled the arrangements.