Leroy Porter

Leroy Porter, 76, died of natural causes in his home in Columbia Falls on Aug. 1, 2012.

He was born to Lloyd and Isabelle Porter on Oct. 27, 1935, in Klamath Falls, Ore. He graduated from Klamath Union High School in 1953 and Oregon State University in 1957. He married Eunice Welman in 1958. They later divorced.

After college, Leroy worked for Phillips Petroleum in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He and his family moved to Columbia Falls in 1963 where he worked for Anaconda Aluminum Co. later ARCO Aluminum until 1986. He then worked seasonally for the Forest Service until retirement in the mid-1990s.

Leroy enjoyed living in Montana. He liked to fish and hunt with his family. He also liked to pick huckleberries. He was well loved among friends and family for the jam he would make from huckleberries and other fruits that he grew in his yard.

He also enjoyed listening to music, reading, genealogy, Civil War history and square dancing.

He enjoyed world travel during his retirement.

He traveled to several countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and Central and South America. He was scheduled to take a trip to Mongolia and Lake Baikal in September.

He is survived by his sister Karen Nicolas, of Klamath Falls, Ore.; daughter and son-in-law Annette and Mickey Hatley, of Keizer, Ore.; daughter and son-in-law Elaine and David Laraway, of Redding, Calif.; son Russell Porter, of Seattle, Wash.; and grandchildren Stephanie Hatley, of Redmond, Wash., Benjamin Hatley, of Corvallis, Ore., Todd Hatley, of Keizer, Ore., and Elisa and Andrew Laraway, of Redding, Calif.

A celebration of his life was held Aug. 18, 2012, at the United Methodist Church in Columbia Falls. Memorials can be made to the Wilderness Society.