Thomas Wayne Porter

DENISON – Thomas Wayne Porter was born October 14, 1945 in Texarkana, Texas to the Van de Berge/Bruce family and was lovingly adopted along with his brother Kenneth by Frances Booth and Ralph A. Porter of Denison in 1954. He was lifted into the Kingdom of God after a brief illness on November 12, 2020. Tom attended Denison Public Schools and graduated from Peacock Military Academy in San Antonio as a boarding student and under the supervision of his aunt and uncle, Mary Lou and William C. Porter, who lived nearby. He attended Southwestern University in Georgetown and finished his studies at Grayson College in his hometown of Denison. Tom’s career path took him first to the State National Bank of Denison where he worked until 1979 when he moved to Dallas. He continued in the banking and sales industry until he retired around the turn of the century. Charity and love for others through Christ were always important for Tom. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Denison growing up and as an adult an active member of the Masonic Lodge #403 in Denison, President of the Denison Jaycees and an active member of First Baptist Church. After his move to Dallas Tom devoted much of his time as a volunteer for the ministry of White Rock Church in Dallas. He finally returned to his roots in Denison and attended Parkside Baptist Church. Tom had been actively involved with many activities of the Denison Rotary club as well as being a legacy member of the Texoma Health Foundation following in the footsteps of his parents. In Tom’s own words on Monday October 19th, 2020 “REMEMBERING… Using my meager insight into my life experiences and the astounding opportunities handed to me through that life, the only words that I can vocalize concerning it all is: WHAT A CHILD OF GOD I WAS TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN SUCH A BLESSING THAT I CAN NEVER REPAY, PRAISES TO HIS NAME FOREVER, AMEN!” Tom was predeceased by his parents, his beloved brother Kenneth and his cousin Molly Porter Burke of San Antonio. He is survived by his niece Tracy Marie Porter Eggleston and her daughters Grace, Hannah, and Emma of Carthage, Texas, nephew Kevin Patrick Porter as well as dear friend Mary Christian of Dallas, cousins Jerry Porter Washam and wife Mary, and Rusty Porter Washam of Dallas and Jennifer Porter Delmer and husband Jonathan of San Antonio along with numerous Van de Berge/Bruce relatives in Arkansas with whom he had re-connected during the last decade. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The Texoma Health Foundation Porter Fund, Denison, The Geary Foster Foundation, Collinsville, The Denison Rotary Club or to a charity of your choice. Services under the direction of Johnson Moore Funeral Home. Condolences may be registered to www.johnsonmooerfuneralhome.net