Linda K. Porter passed quickly from this world into the arms of her savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, February 15, 2021. Born in Big Spring, TX on December 23, 1951 to John and Vera Bailey, Linda considered herself a tomboy and always lamented growing up in a time when girls were forced to wear dresses to school. She loved the outdoors, but terrible ear infections when she was little kept her inside the house where she could be found careening around corners on her tricycle and giving her older sister a reason to tattle on her. She had a heart for animals, especially her favorite horse, Scooter, and the many dogs she had as pets throughout her life.
Linda had a work ethic that seems to be rare these days. After graduating high school, she attended Howard College, and worked as a P.A. at Malone and Hogan Hospital in Big Spring. That was where she met her true love, Mel Porter. She and Mel raised two children together, and when their kids were old enough to be in school, she went back to school herself and earned her R.N. license. Later, she started a successful home business that allowed her to travel every other week and attend the needs of her aging parents. When her parents moved closer, she opened a clinic, where she provided prenatal care for the needy, and for which she received a commendation from the state of Texas. After her husband retired, they moved to San Angelo, where she could care for her parents full-time until they passed away. Then after she was widowed, she went right back to work, providing home care for the elderly. She always said she would work until the day she died, and that’s exactly what she did.
Linda had a servant’s heart and spent her life taking care of others, whether that role was as a nurse, relative, or friend. Her kindness and generosity were unmatched. She gave sacrificially of her time and money, and on many occasions, she opened her home to relatives or friends who were struggling and needed a place to stay for a while. One of her love languages was cooking for others. She had amazing skills in the kitchen, which may be attributed to learning at a young age. One day, when she was five years old, her dad told her it was time she learned how to make biscuits. She stood on a chair, following his instructions, and that first batch came out of their wood oven hard as brickbats. In the retelling of it, her dad always accused her of doing it on purpose so she could get out of making them, but she insisted it was just a learning curve. By the end of the week, she had perfected them. Her famous biscuits filled the bellies of many people who reminisce fondly about them even 30 years later.
Linda was a natural musician. She was kicked out of piano lessons as a child because the teacher gave her a ditty to play and got irritated when Linda added the harmony on her own. She regretted that she never learned to read music, but she had the ability to play by ear any instrument she tried, from the banjo to the accordion. She was the pianist at Knickerbocker Community Church for several years, and would turn red with embarrassment each week, because, she claimed that the hymns she played on the piano sounded like honky-tonk. In truth, everyone loved to listen to her lively renditions. Almost 9 years ago, she was gifted a viola, which she fell in love with instantly, declaring that it was the instrument she never knew she always wanted to play. She played that viola with a few different music groups over the years, adding her beautiful harmony to hymns, old country songs, and Irish folk tunes, while performing for nursing home residents, and at various community events in San Angelo. She refused to sing in public other than harmonizing with her son and daughter when they played at the nursing home, but she had a lovely voice. She and her kids passed the time on countless road trips singing every song they could think of, and in more recent years would spend hours on a weekend evening singing and playing music together.
Linda touched the hearts of everyone she met. She loved making people laugh with her self-deprecating humor and unique way of telling stories. Above all, she loved her Creator and Redeemer, and the joy of the LORD emanated from her gold eyes and wide smile. Our hearts feel empty from her absence, but we know she is an eye-witness to the glory of our risen Savior and we look forward to a joyous reunion.
Linda was preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, Melvin A Porter, M.D., and her parents, John and Vera Bailey. She is survived by her son, Gary Porter of San Angelo, TX and his daughters, Morgan and Quinn Porter of Lubbock, TX; her daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Chris Cimino and their children, Zoraya and Zephan, of San Angelo, TX; and her sister and brother-in-law, Billie and Tommy McMahon of San Angelo, TX; her nephew John McMahon, her niece Julie Rogers and their families; and many beloved cousins.
A graveside service will be held Monday, February 22, at 2pm at Greenwood Community Cemetery, near Weatherford, TX. Call 325-500-8783 for directions. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.
Graveside
Monday, February 22, 2021
2:00PM
Greenwood Community Cemetery
3150 Greenwood Rd.
Weatherford, Texas 76088
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