Don Fletcher Porter

Don Fletcher Porter, 86, passed away peacefully at home on November 1, 2025, surrounded by his family after a long struggle with both Parkinson’s and dementia. We are heartbroken that Don has left us, yet happy that he is at peace and reunited with loved ones.

Don was born February 25, 1939 to Veda and Clyde Porter. He was raised in Ogden, Utah attending Ogden High School and Weber State University. He often repeated his mother’s quote “Ogden is a pretty little town.”

Don’s childhood was filled with mischievous adventure, and he loved retelling these stories until the very end. We believe Ogden was a safer place to live after Don moved away.

He served a 2 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Kentucky, Tenessee, and West Virginia. The mission changed his perspective on serving and giving, and he declared a major in social work after he got home.

Don married the love of his life, Maureen Ellen Wise, on January 25th, 1975, in Glendale, California. They were then sealed in the Ogden temple on January 25, 1977. They spent the majority of their lives in Orem, Utah where they raised three children; Kimberley, Lisa and Spencer. He was a great Dad, and very focused on his family. He loved to hunt and fly fish from an early age, creating many memories and great stories with his dad, brother and extended family. Don shared his passion and knowledge of those traditions with Spencer, who took him for one last hunt in Montana in 2021.

Don’s other passion was cars. They were an integral part of most stories, at every stage of his life. He was always on the hunt for some pile of metal that needed resuscitating and his last effort at revival was a hot rod that didn’t quite get finished, but sure made him happy.

He adored his children but when he became a grandpa he was absolutely giddy, and each of them loved him fiercely in return. Don was quick to assure each of his children and grandchildren that they were his favorite, and having no reason to believe otherwise, they still know they are! Their only competition for being his favorite was his beloved dog Izzy, and his obsession with ice cream. It was a rare trip to Ogden to see family that didn’t culminate in a visit to Farr’s Ice Cream parlor.

Parkinson’s robbed Don of a lot of his outgoing personality. He could be having a really rough day, but a phone call from his best friend, David Tolbert, brought him right back to their youth and he would become animated and full of life as they recounted stories of their antics and the girls they admired, mostly from afar. His jovial disposition and frequent story telling will be missed, but many of his stories are legendary and will live in infamy.

Don is survived by his wife, Maureen Porter; children Kimberley Porter, Lisa Call and Spencer Porter (Lindsay); grandchildren Kortney Roberts (Hunter), Grace Dawe, Ella Dawe, Brody Dawe, Charlotte Dawe, Addison Call and Olivia Call; great grandson Owen Roberts; and his brother Gerald (Dale) Porter.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his sisters and brothers-in-law Lavon and Joe Youngberg, Arlene and Joe Hinich; his son-in-law Lyndon Call; and his mother and father-in-law Betty and Riley Wise.

The Porter family wishes to express their gratitude to all of his wonderful hospice care team, most recently Bri, Trinity, Ashley, Amy, Cassidy, and Channing. We couldn’t have done it all without you.

Date and time for a Celebration of Life for Don to be held in Orem, Utah, will be confirmed shortly.