Lawrence Porter, 64, of McKinney, Tx, died suddenly at home on March 26, 2015. He was born September 23, 1950 in Odessa, Texas, to Ollie and Marie Porter. He attended public schools in Odessa, including Bowie Jr. High and Odessa High School. He played varsity basketball on the 1969 OHS team which went to the Texas State Playoffs. He attended Odessa College and Texas Tech University. Lawrence spent 38 years as a furniture salesman, working for McMinn’s Furniture in Odessa for 12 years and for Howell’s Furniture in McKinney for 17 years, along with a few other stores. At age 57 he went back to college and graduated with a bachelor’s degree at age 60 with the intention of teaching school. Due to health issues he decided to focus his working time as a substitute teacher, working for Melissa ISD, Anna ISD and Prosper ISD around the McKinney area. Lawrence was a man of Godly character who loved his family. He was known for his patience, his dry wit, and his heart for other people. He was a Baptist Deacon at First Baptist Church in Odessa, Plano and McKinney, TX. He taught Sunday School for 3rd graders and 6th graders for many years, along with teaching adults and directing adult Sunday School departments.
He is survived by his wife, Jan Porter, of McKinney; three daughters, Christi Best and her husband Brian of Denton, Texas, Allison Cox and her husband, Justin, of Fate, TX, and Kathryn Porter of Austin, TX; two granddaughters, Bailey and Victoria Garcia, and two step-grandchildren, Taylor and Tyler Cox.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Marie and Elbert Porter, and his older sister, Phyllis Porter.
Funeral services will be at 3:00 PM at First Baptist Church, 1615 W. Louisiana, McKinney, Texas, with burial immediately afterwards at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, TX. Visitation will be at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral home in Allen, Texas from 7:00 to 9:00 PM on Friday, March 27, 2015.
Memorials can be sent to Gideon’s International to share the Good News or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to seek a cure for Type I Diabetes.