PORTER, Marvin (Hoot)

Pinal Nugget Marvin “Hoot” Porter, 85, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, at Hospice Family Care, Casa Grande. Relatives and friends are invited to a remembrance service celebrating Hoot’s life at the Lighthouse Assembly of God, South Highway 77, Winkelman, on Saturday, Jan. 30, at 2 p.m. Hoot was born in Iredell, Texas in 1924 and moved to Coolidge in 1940, before settling in Winkelman, where he served terms as councilman and mayor. Hoot founded and coached the highly successful Winkelman Raiders, women’s softball team. Hoot and Audra envisioned a softball field for their “family.” And so, an acre of river bottom in the Winkelman Flats became their field of dreams. He later coached the Hayden High school Lobos, girl’s softball team. Mr. Porter moved to Casa Grande after the Winkelman Flats were flooded in 1993. He was a section foreman with the Southern Pacific railroad and spent 30 years as a manager before retiring from Kennecott Copper Corp., Ray mines division. Mr. Porter, a Navy veteran served on a sub chaser in the South Pacific during WWII. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Audra, father, Marvin, mother, Clora, and brother, Billy Joe. He is survived by son Robert (Kathryn) Porter, granddaughter Alyssa (Mark)Vigil, grandson Travis Porter, great-granddaughter, Ashley Porter and great-great-granddaughter, Ariyah Valdez, sister Geneva Bureson, sister Wanda (Suzie) Snow and many nieces and nephews. In Lieu of flowers the family suggests a contribution the American Lung Association in Marvin’s name.