Porter, Michael Albert
Michael Albert Porter passed away quietly on April 29th, 2022 at Lewis Gale Montgomery, with his wife Linda by his side. He was 78 years old. Mike was born to Arthur James Porter and Amelia Mitchell Porter on April 14th 1944 in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, England.
He spent his growing up years there being a typical English schoolboy. He wasn’t fond of school and sometimes got in trouble with the teachers although he did like to box and participated in some local contests. He was a hard worker and started working at a young age. He did several jobs in his formative years including stocking shelves at a pet store, gardening, a garage, and as a caddy at a local golf club, where he worked with a young golfer named Tony Jacklin, who would later turn professional.
But it was his job in a machine shop that shaped his life’s work. He learned to set up and operate Screw Machines. He was so good that in 1965, during the Viet Nam war, he was recruited and immigrated to the United States. His first job was in the Boston area, but he soon moved on. He kept moving on to other machining jobs in Canada and the U. S. He had great adventures and was never without work. He eventually settled on the Chicago area. He loved to talk about his $9.00 a week room, riding the El train and public buses, and the many companies he worked for and the people he met
It was there that he met his first wife in a park. After they married, he worked with her father in Dixon, Illinois, and they relocated to Rockford, Illinois area and had 2 children, Mike (Mikey) and Rebecca. Mike stayed in the Rockford area but continued to worked in Chicago. Some years later, he met Linda at a singles dance. He wasn’t there to dance, just checking out the activity. It wasn’t long before they became a couple, and they would spend the next 35 years together marrying in 2011.
Although he didn’t have any hobbies, he loved to talk to people and hear all about their lives. He was drawn to the under privileged and often bought the homeless man a cold drink on a hot day or a meal. He enjoyed watching boxing and golf on television. He also liked car shopping, rarely buying one. He worked out, ran, and bicycled with his friend John Schafer. He liked little kids, being able to get down to their level. But Screw Machines were really his life, and he sorely missed that when he was no longer able to work.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Clifford of Radford; his son, Mike Porter (Jennifer) of Georgetown, Texas; his daughter, Rebecca Johnson (Andrew) of Hattiesburg, Miss.; his beloved sister, Elaine Rusted; nephews, David and Neil Rusted, all of Leighton Buzzard in England; his grandchildren, Zachery Porter (Kassidy) Samantha Thomas (Nathan), Addison Porter, Rigley Porter, Brandon Lavelle Yawn, Lillian Grace Yawn, and Regan Michael Yawn; Linda’s children, Edward Clifford, Jr. and Christina Scott; and special grandchildren Trevor Ford, Hanna Scott and Reina Scott.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, father, Arthur, mother, Amelia, stepmother, Margaret, brother-in-law, Keith Rusted, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Linda would like to thank the nurses, doctors, and staff at Lewis Gale Montgomery, Lewis Gale Salem, and Highland Ridge Rehab for the excellent care of Mike.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Radford Food Pantry or the Northern Illinois Food Bank in Rockford, Illinois.
The family is under the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford, Virginia. www.mullinsfuneralhome.com