Bobby Lynn Porter

Bobby Lynn Porter, 88, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2021. Bob was born January 12, 1933, to Roland and Mina Haws Porter in Escalante, Utah. He was the seventh of eight children. At the age of 5, they moved to the ranch where he first learned about hard work. He attended elementary and high school in Escalante and had great relationships with his teachers and classmates, graduating in 1951. Bob got his draft notice to the U.S. Army in 1952 and reported for basic training shortly after. He was discharged in 1954 just in time for Christmas. On November 22, 1955, he married Sandra Bailey in the St. George Temple for time and all eternity. He attended and played basketball for Cedar City University and in 1959 graduated from the College of Southern Utah with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. He later went on to earn a master’s degree from Arizona State University. He and Sandra moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1959 where he taught elementary school for 14 years. Bob was a builder and skilled craftsman. He built 5 of the homes they lived in over the years along with homes and cabinets for others all over the valley. In 1973 Bob obtained his contractors license and operated Bob Porter Construction until starting up a cabinetry business, Sawmill Custom Cabinets, which he owned and operated until his retirement in 2003. He and Sandra served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Honduras San Pedro Sula Mission in Belize from 2003 to 2004. Bob and Sandra served in the Mesa Arizona Temple for 13 years. Bob always had a project he was working on in the shop, a part of the yard he was tending to, or a piece of history he was learning about. Bob was known and loved for his kind heart, service to others, and wonderful sense of humor.

He is survived by his wife Sandra, children Teresa LeSueur (Darrel), Brent (Afton), and Travis (Alyssa), thirteen grandchildren, and nineteen great-grandchildren.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, four sisters, two daughters, and one grandson.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 9, 2021, at the Edgewood Ward building, 4640 E. Holmes Ave, Mesa, with visitation at 9:00 am followed by a funeral service at 10:00 am. Interment will be at the City of Mesa Cemetery, 1212 N. Center Street, Mesa, Arizona. Services will also be available through Zoom https://zoom.us/j/93431437098 or YouTube https://youtu.be/ZMIeOQexh0U for those wishing to join remotely.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Services: https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/humanitarian-services