Elmo Edward Porter

            I chose to interview my dad; Richard James Porter about his paternal grandfather, Elmo Edward Porter – or to those who knew him, Ed. Ed was born in 1910 in Grayson, San Juan County, Utah, USA. He spent his childhood in the Porterville area of Morgan, Utah, USA.

As an adult, Ed always wore brown or grey slacks, never jeans. He paired that with a button down shirt and wore glasses. My Dad also told me of Grandpa Porter’s aftershave. He could not recall the name, but said he always wore it. He loved A&W Root Beer and only drank coke when he had a headache.

In 1930, Ed married and later divorced. He married again in 1936 but that marriage also ended in divorce. On Aug 10, 1939, he married the love of his life, my great grandmother, Marion Stewart. Marion had a young son, Gordon when she married Ed. Ed adopted Gordon and then together they had three children, Ed, Richard (my grandfather) and Nancy.

Ed had many careers over the course of his lifetime. Out of necessity, he worked until the day he died.  Some of those careers included insurance salesman and the owner of a game store. In his later years, he worked as a church custodian. He was over one church and did all the maintenance and cleaning on it. Ed often took his young grandson, Ricky (my Father) to clean the church with him on Saturdays. My Dad spoke lovingly of these times spent cleaning and learning.

            May 6, 1977, Ed suddenly passed away at the age of 67. His wife survived him, as well as all four of his children and many grandchildren. All were devastated at the loss of their beloved father and grandfather.

            Ed was such a good man. He was my Father’s hero and his best friend. My Dad speaks fondly of his beloved Grandpa. About his Grandpa Ed he said, “He was so understanding, so quick to laugh and to love…I always knew he loved me.”