John Porter

John "Big John" Melton Porter, 77, passed away after a brief illness on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at the Care Partners Keever Solace Center.

A native of Rock Hill, SC, he was the son of the late James Orin and Thelma Parrish Porter. John proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1959-1964. He was a member of the Rock Hill #111 Masonic Lodge and the York County Crescent Shrine Club. John worked for Smith Enterprises, supervising their Christmas Gift Catalog Division and as a Premium Sales Representative for many years prior to owning his own company, John Porter Incentives. He recently was employed as a host at the Haywood County Visitors Center and was the face on several informational ads for the Great Smoky Mountains. John was an avid fisherman who enjoyed spending his free time on the water wetting a hook. He would host fish fries for family and friends and entertain them for hours with his storytelling. John also enjoyed golfing and established two golf tournaments, the "Wormy Open" in memory of his longtime friend, Mike Randall, and the POPS (Poor Old Premium Salesmen) golf tournament. When he wasn't fishing or golfing, he enjoyed reading about World War II and working crossword puzzles. John never met a stranger and enjoyed swapping stories with anyone who would listen. He was an active member of Long's Chapel United Methodist Church and the Tullis Sunday School class.

John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Eleanor Dill Porter; son, Bucky Porter, and his wife Aimee Roberts Porter, of Columbia, SC; daughter, Robin Porter Thompson, and her husband, Bo, of Savannah, GA; six grandchildren, Jed and Charlotte Thompson, Jack, Maggie, Georgia, and Ladson Porter.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2:30 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2018, at Long's Chapel United Methodist Church with Reverend Chris Westmoreland and Reverend Tim McConnell officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Long's Chapel United Methodist Church, Imagine Campaign, P. O. Box 459, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745 or to the Care Partners Keever Solace Center, 21 Belvedere Road, Asheville, NC 28803.

The care of Mr. Porter has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home and an online memorial register is available at "Obituaries" at www.wellsfuneralhome.com.

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