Wayne Howard Porter

Wayne Howard Porter was born on a small dairy farm near Braham, Minnesota on June 25, 1933. Even when his family moved to Milaca, Minnesota, some of his fondest life memories circled around the time he spent on that farm under the mentoring of Uncle Russell. During these formative years he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. He graduated from Milaca High School in 1951.

He joined the Army Security Agency in 1953 and was in Korea when the conflict ended in 1954. Upon returning from Korea, he married Marjorie Marudas on August 14, 1955. From there they attended St. Cloud State University with Wayne earning his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Teacher Education. He earned a Specialist Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Minnesota in 1979.

As a couple they committed to Jesus Christ the Son of God as the guidepost upon which they were anchored and lived out that faith with family and in service as public school teachers and faithful church members. They enjoyed raising their three daughters as life learners by encouraging them in their school studies, by having long summer camping trips around the USA, in music, and in athletics. They were a committed, faithful, productive, supportive and loving team in marriage for 70 years.

Wayne was a junior high math teacher in Minnetonka, Minnesota for 9 years and later junior high principal in Northfield, Minnesota for 10 years. He cowboyed his family to Douglas, Wyoming in 1979 for the challenge of being a middle school principal and designing a creative, state of the art, student oriented middle school building. Douglas Middle School was chosen as a national school of excellence and he fostered a sister school cultural exchange trip with a school in Maryland. He later served as assistant superintendent for Douglas school district. After retiring from Douglas schools, he served as Executive Director of the Wyoming School - University Partnership for 5 years to promote better teaching habits and school organization for the benefit of students. He retired in1998 after 40 years in education.

Wayne was especially proud of the work he did as a principal and his staff who were well known for conducting an “Interdisciplinary Teaching Teams” approach in their schools. They were invited to conduct workshops in several Wyoming schools and at Middle School National Conferences. Their approach was included as part of a book for training California Middle School Teachers.

Wayne is survived by his wife Marjorie, his loving daughters; Allison Smelley and her husband Russell, Jennifer Strock and her husband Roy; and Rachel Mattson and her husband Jim. His legacy endures through his and Marge’s grandchildren Jared Strock and his wife Katie; Janea LaMeres and her husband Nolan; Genevra Gatlin and her husband Jeremy; Kirsten, Annika and Heidi Mattson and Travis Smelley. He and Marge were also blessed to have great grandchildren Halle, Jocelyn and Porter Strock, Xander and Zeke LaMeres, and Katie, Bear, Daisy and Joshua Gatlin. He is also survived by his sister Sharon Babin and nephews Brian and Kevin Lundgren. It was always a joy to have family gatherings with Grandma Marge and Grandpa Wayne in Douglas!

He was preceded in death by his parents Edith and Howard Porter; sister Margery Lundgren and husband David; brother-in-law John Babin; and granddaughter Alyssa Smelley.

A Memorial Service will be held Friday June 13th at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church in Douglas, Wyoming. There will be a reception following the service in the church Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church 221 S. 4th Street, Douglas, WY 82633 or Samaritan’s Purse P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.

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