Obituary of Vernie C. Porter

Vernie C. Porter, age 88, a resident of Lake Saint Louis, Missouri and a former resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away Thursday, February 17, 2022, at DePaul Hospital, Bridgeton, Missouri.

Vernie was born the son of Lee Porter and Annie Rachel (Fleming) Porter on October 30, 1933 in Pleasantshade, Tennessee.  He joined the Navy in 1951 and served through 1954 during the Korean War. Vernie then worked at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard while he finished High School in Long Beach, California.  On June 14, 1958, he married Bonnie Jean Wescott in Ensenada, Mexico.  She preceded him in death on July 15, 2006.  He eventually received his Electrical Engineering Degree from Phoenix College / Arizona State University.   As a Navy veteran, he also worked for the United States Government under the Department of Defense.  Vernie retired after 37 ½ years of total service.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Chillicothe, Missouri, and the Kiwanis Club, and he was the Boy Scout Troop Leader, #343, while living in Scottsdale, Arizona. His hobbies included woodworking, collecting antiques, gardening, fishing and bowling. He considered himself a professional student. 

Survivors include one son, Douglas Porter, and wife, Paula, of Cave Creek, Arizona; one granddaughter, Morgan Elizabeth Porter of Columbia, Missouri and one grandson, Dalton Lee Porter of Lake Saint Louis, Missouri; one brother, Joe Porter of Gallatin, Tennessee and two sisters, Paulette Carter and May Williams of Gallatin, Tennessee; several nieces, nephews, great -nieces and great -nephews. Vernie was preceded in death by his parents, wife Bonnie, 6 brothers, 4 sisters and in-laws Lavonne and Bob Gipe, Lorena and Leonard Wescott.

Funeral services will be held at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. There is no scheduled visitation. Friends may call at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Burial will be held at Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Chillicothe, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, PO Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri, 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhomes.com.