Remembering Grandpa Porter

My grandpa, Vernon Porter, passed away three weeks ago. As is true with lots of funerals, they are a family reunion of sorts. For my dad's family, that is spread throughout California, Oregon, Kansas and parts of Canada, it is not an everyday occasion that we are all together. The last time my dad was with his parents and all of his siblings was in 1995. My parents came out by car (flying last minute was too expensive). My brother came by plane (but because of cost Alli and Clark had to stay home). And my uncle, aunt, and cousins from Canada all came by car as well. They were planning a CA trip for the following week and just bumped up their schedule (truly a blessing in its timing, I'm not sure all of them could have come otherwise). Everyone made it by Friday afternoon in time for the viewing and a dinner together at my aunt's house. Saturday, August 14, was the memorial service. My dad and all three of his siblings had a chance to share some of their favorite memories. There was a slideshow with snapshots from my grandpa's life. And there was an open sharing time for people who came that included some very memorable stories! People mentioned my grandpa's super-firm handshake, his love of writing poems, his yearly participation as a bell-ringer for the Salvation Army, his love and dedication to God and his family, as well as his faithful friendship to so many, including his wife of 59 years!

Thank you so much to those of you that helped with meals for our big family, cards, flowers, and prayers! All of them were so appreciated! My grandma, Iva, with 6 of the 9 great-grandkids. The entire Porter family that came. After the service we went back to my aunt's house to relax, have some dinner, swim in the pool, and just enjoy the fact that we were all together! This is a picture of my dad with his mom, brother, and two sisters.