Jack David Porten

WADESBORO – On Friday, March 22, 2024, Mr. Jack David Porten, 48, was called home peacefully to be with the Lord at McWhorter Hospice House in Monroe with his loving wife at his bedside.

There will be a memorial service at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in the Chapel of Leavitt Funeral Home with Rev. Randy Swaringen and Mr. Ken Caulder officiating. 

The family will greet friends from 6:00 PM until 7:30 PM, Monday, March 25, 2024, at the funeral home and other times at the home of his mother-in-law in the Brown Creek Community. 

Jack was born December 1, 1975, in Robeson County, NC and was a son of the late Richard Carl Porten and the late Joan Penird Porten. He was a 1994 graduate of Anson High School. He was a member of Cathedral Baptist Church. 

Having grown up on the family farm in the Deep Creek Community it is no doubt his life-long passion and career was that of farming. Whether it be turkey or cattle farming or raising hay, as long as he could be outside and, on a tractor, he was happy. He did, however, work for Dwight Trexler Logging for 10 years, but went back to his first love, farming. He and his father enjoyed farming together. 

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of nearly 20 years, Kristi McCollum Porten; his daughter, McKinley; his sister and brother, Kelly Ourth (John) of St. Louis, MO and Bill Porten (Becky) of Las Vegas, NV; his mother-in-law, Betty Jo McCollum of Wadesboro; his father-in-law, Ronald McCollum (Pam) of Marshville; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Wendy and Tony Ricketts of Wadesboro; his niece and nephew, were more like his children, McKayla Chavis (Dec) of Cheraw, SC and Trace Ricketts (Emily Edwards) of Wadesboro; long-time family friends, Pam and Steve Tarlton of Wadesboro, who were like a second mom and dad to him; his beloved dogs, Kimber, Belle and the farm dog, Duke; and his aunts and uncles and their families. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Matthew. 

Jack will be remembered for his devotion to his parents, especially during their years of declining health. He was indeed a faithful and loving son. He loved the family farm in the Deep Creek Community and all his friends and extended family there. He always looked forward to riding the Polaris on the farm to show off the animals. He was an avid hunter and bird watcher. He always made sure the hummingbirds and others were fed. 

Jack loved everything family and looked forward to family beach trips and searching for shark teeth. 

His family is most grateful to Dr. Farmer and his staff at Levine Cancer Center in Monroe for the exceptional care and support they have given to Jack and them during the nearly 2 years of his journey and most recently to the staff of Hospice of Union County for all that they did to make the final part of his journey easier and more comforting. 

A very special thank you to the many friends in the larger community who have supported Jack and the family throughout the years. The statement, “it takes a village” could not have been truer during this time and Jack’s family is grateful for their village. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to an education fund for McKinley in care of the State Employees Credit Union, P.O. Box 1210, 210 N. Park Rd., Wadesboro, NC 28170, attention Amy Turner or Van Pham, checks made payable to McKinley Porten or to McWhorter Hospice House, 700 W. Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe, NC 28110. 

The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home and online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com