Thomas “Wayne” Porter
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Thomas's obituary
Thomas “Wayne” Porter passed away the 16th of August, 2025. He was 74 years old.
He was preceded in death by his parents Thomas and Gladys Porter, his brothers, Edgar C. Porter, Michael G. Porter, and William D. Porter, sister, Linda Faye Porter, and sister-in law, Carol Porter.
The legacy of his life and love, will be carried on by his brother, James Porter, his children, Hannah Jackter, Noah Jackter, and Olivia Jackter, grandsons, Luka and Levi Jackter- Visesio and their dad (Joseph),Tom’s neice, Elizabeth Porter, and his ex, Stephanie Jackter
Born and raised a few steps away from the Roanoke River in Salem, Virginia, Tom settled in Tucson, Arizona in 1980, where he quickly figured out the fishing pole he’d brought with him was no longer of much use, but could be fairly traded for amazing sunsets and warm winters.
Tom spent his life building and repairing homes, nurturing his children and family, volunteering lots of his time to help both neighbors and strangers on the fly, and feeling lucky to sink more than a man’s full share of golf and pool balls.
Because he was physically less able the last twenty years of his life, many of his friends have no idea what a truly remarkable tradesman and project person Tom was. He could build a house, and did, from the design and drafting of plans ( by hand in those days, on velum paper), to footers, pouring foundations, running electric lines, framing, throwing up trusses, sweating pipes, laying tile floors, hanging and texturing drywall, laying brick, straight up to laying perfectly spaced shingles on a roof.
With all that knowledge, he never got paid worth a shit, but Tom Porter didn’t do life for the money. He had other priorities
What he hated? Working on cars!
Tom gave everybody in the neighborhood joy as the happy clown each Halloween, and romped with his kids on the floor as a daily devotion until whenever that time came when his 50 year old back just couldn’t do it anymore.
He will be missed, and never forgotten, by many - his children, family, friends and work buddies, golf friends, and the pool team who gave him fellowship and comraderie to the very final days of his life.
Until his last few weeks, two thoughts motivated him to keep fighting the illness that menaced him - the hopes of living to see the birth of his new grandson, and one more game of pool at the Boondocks with people he loved.
Neither of those came to pass, but our family looks forward to sharing his memory and the sweet smiles of his grandbabies, with all who wish to join us October 5th at 6 p.m. at The Boondocks, 3306 N. 1st Avenue, Tucson, AZ, (520- 884- 0678), where everybody knows his name.
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