W. Dean Porter

W. Dean Porter, 99, of Midland, passed on January 12, 2024 in Pampa.

Graveside services will be 10:00 AM Saturday, January 27, 2024 at Serenity Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Midland with Pastor Rick Holeman, pastor of Cotton Flat Baptist Church in Midland, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory of Pampa.

The family will receive friend at the funeral home on Thursday, January 25, 2024 from 6:00-7:30 PM.

W. Dean Porter was born May 2, 1924 in Farwell, Texas to Fred and Ethyl Porter. Dean attended schools in Clovis, New Mexico.  He enlisted in the Army Air Corp on May 27, 1942 where he served as a flight engineer on Martin B-26 Marauders.  Dean married Doris Virginia Akin in 1945.  After being discharged, he tried different professions until he found his niche in sales.  Dean was employed by Folger’s Coffee Company and moved his family to Odessa, Texas where he serviced the West Texas area which was the largest land district of Folger’s.  While at Folger’s Dean was very successful, being one of only two men to ever sell 2 million pounds of coffee in a year.  As father and husband, he would travel during the week and then come home on the weekend to remodel the family home.  When finished, a bedroom and bathroom had been added and an apartment for his mother and shop area constructed.  No original door or window remained in the house.  After retiring from Procter & Gamble, he moved to Midland where he began selling trucks at Sewell Motor Company.  Dean married Loretta “Gerry” Farmer Black in 1978.  While Gerry served in the Order of Eastern Star, Dean became a member of the Fraternity of Masons.  Gerry and Dean visited 149 of the Eastern Star chapters in the United States when Gerry served as Supreme Worthy President of the Social Order of Beauceant.  Dean also served as a Deacon of the Cotton Flat Baptist Church.  After Gerry’s death, Dean moved to San Angelo where he lived independently until moving to Pampa in July, 2023.  

Dean was proceeded in death by his parents; two brothers, Rusty and Sam Porter; his sister, Carol White; wife, Gerry Porter; and son, Dempsey “Jack” Porter.

Survivors include son, Lee Porter and wife Janice, grandsons, Chris Porter and wife Angela, and Gavin Porter and wife Kelley; granddaughter, Jai Jai Porter – Diehl and husband Gerry; great grandchildren, Bradey, Emiley, Hannah, Abbey, Duncan, and Alexis Porter.  

The family would like to thank Interim Hospice in Pampa and in San Angelo and Meredith Court for their care of Mr. Porter. They also would like to thank Mary Roe for helping look after and her friendship to Mr. Porter.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital.