James Lawrence Porter was born the son of Edgar Uzelian Porter and Ossie Ola Reed Porter on March 27, 1929, in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, and departed this life on March 21, 2025, in West Plains, Missouri at the age of 95.
He was united in marriage on August 26, 1950, to Imogene Iris Baty. They remained married over 67 years.
He is survived by two children, Jamie Read and husband Vernon of Portland, Oregon, and Myron Porter and wife Rebecca of Portland, Oregon; two brothers—Melvin Porter and wife Christy of Licking, Missouri, and Leon Porter and his wife Connie of Willow Springs, Missouri; three grandchildren—Gareth Porter of McMinnville, Oregon, Blake Porter of Everett, Washington, and Micah Read of Portland, Oregon; one step-granddaughter—Karen Read of Portland, Oregon; one great-grandchild—Lance Porter of Portland, Oregon; many nieces and nephews and other relatives, and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and a brother—Kathleen Schutt, Maxine Cook, J.D. (Jeffrey Denford) Porter and Betty Lou Humphries; two half-brothers— Clyde Porter and Virgil Porter; and one grandson— Zachary Porter.
James Lawrence Porter was called ‘Wort’ during his four years at Welcome Hill School, west of Mammoth Spring. He then attended four years at Mammoth Spring Elementary. He worked at Jack Capshaw’s gas station and Beatty Oil in Thayer while living with his oldest sister Kathleen until he turned 20. He was called ‘Shorty’ or ‘Smooth Sailing’ when he began working for Martin Plockberger’s candy and notion business in 1949, driving a candy truck with a Smooth Sailing candy bar logo on the side. In 1949, he met Imogene Baty, an elementary teacher living in Thayer. They had a first date in December 1949, looking for a Christmas tree with Martin and Florence Plockberger, who had introduced them. Imogene rented from them. James and Imogene married in 1950.
Their first decade was devoted to saving money for a business and the birth of their two children. They lived in Peoria, Illinois when James worked for Caterpillar. In Thayer, they opened Porter’s 5 & 10 cent store in 1960, and the Lucky Dollar in May 1963. He was on the City Council 1964-1967. He opened Lucky Dollar stores in Ava (1967), Mountain Grove (1969), Salem (1970), Mountain View (1970), Licking (1971) and J & I Wholesale (1971). He opened Thayer True Value (1975), Thayer Fuel Center (1981), Alton Save Shop (1983). He built Thayer Dairy Queen (1985) and Houston Dairy Queen (1987).
In the late 1980’s, he received a patent on his Tray Minder, which he invented to stop the trays from being thrown away from the Dairy Queens. By the end of the 1980s he began wintering in Florida, and by 1992 was wintering in Yuma, Arizona with a flourishing Fea Market business during winters. He opened Pizza Inn in Thayer (1997). In 1999 he opened a Quick Lube in Thayer. Initially, his Thayer Fabric was located next to the Quick Lube and then relocated to a new building on south 6th in 2013. While James and Imogene enjoyed many businesses over their years together, the Fabric store was their dearest and most fun. With Imogene’s illness in 2017, he sold the Fabric Store to be with his wife until her death in 2018. They had been a phenomenal, steady couple, working beside each other in business for 57 years.
In their spare time they helped their children to college, built five houses and made forty-five land deals. Although his family had attended Welcome Hill Church of Christ where James’ grandfather had been a minister, James and Imogene were members of Thayer Baptist Church. In later years they attended evening services at Calvary Baptist Church in West Plains.
In 2019 James was asked to help find a place for Thayer Head Start. He purchased the property, renewed his contractor’s license, and built Thayer Head Start. He hoped to continue with a similar project in Alton but became limited post-COVID in 2020. He enjoyed watching the squirrels and birds and baked cakes for friends while reviewing stocks and working on land projects until serious illness prevented him in the winter of 2024-2025.
James and Imogene travelled extensively in the United States. All 49 states were driven to, as well as Western Canada and trips to Northern Mexico. They visited their children and grandchildren, and made many friends close to home, and far away. James was conservative and honest, industrious, hard-working, and enjoyed interactions, and they had lots of fun.
Funeral services for James Porter, age 95, of Thayer, Missouri, will be held on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Thayer, Missouri.
Visitation will be Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 12:00 p.m. until the time of service at 2:00 p.m. at Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Thayer, Missouri.
Interment will be at Thayer Cemetery, Thayer, Missouri with services under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer, Missouri.
