Eugene Warriner Porter

June 12, 1927 ~ June 15, 2011
How well he fell asleep!
Like some proud river,
widening toward the sea;
calmly and grandly,
silently and deep,
Life joined Eternity
(Samuel Coleridge)
Our loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Eugene Warriner Porter, a native son of San Juan County, UT, peacefully passed away on June 15, 2011, due to natural causes incident to age, at the home of his daughter, Cynthia, and son-in-law, Gary, in Glendale, AZ.
Interment in La Verkin City Cemetery, La Verkin, UT, with military honors performed by VFW Post 1266 - Hurricane, Hurricane, UT.
Eugene Warriner Porter was born at home to Hyrum Edward and Lucy (Carroll) Porter on June 12, 1927, Blanding, UT, where he spent the happy years of his childhood.
Following graduation from high school, Gene followed his brothers into the military and enlisted in the Navy on September 12, 1945.
He was stationed in San Francisco, CA and honorably discharged August 6, 1946.
Following his discharge, Gene continued his education, attending Utah State University and Brigham Young University.
During this time, Eugene was united in marriage to Anne Barton (later divorced) in Monticello, UT. They spent the early years of their marriage in San Juan County.
Following his divorce, Gene married Louise Sessions and was sealed to his eternal companion on March 19, 1983, in the Provo, UT Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Moving to Price, UT, Gene continued his employment with Utah Department of Work Forces as Program Supervisor.
After retiring, Gene and Louise moved to LaVerkin, UT, where they spent many happy years before her passing in 2004.
At that time, due to serious health concerns and physical limitations, Gene accepted his son, Scott’s, and daughter-in-law, Garla’s, generous invitation to move in with them, where he lived very happily for over three years.
He then lived with his oldest son, Alan, followed by his daughter, Cindy, and her husband, Gary, until his passing.
Although Gene was a gifted athlete and excellent marksman in his early years, music takes center role in the great enjoyments of his life. Gene cherished the honor of playing taps on his trumpet while still in high school for fallen soldiers of World War II.
He loved playing in the Harvey John band as a seventh grader and with the Francis Lyman orchestra for about 20 years, traveling all over Colorado, Arizona, and Utah.
He also played a couple of years with the Riley Walker Western Band and enjoyed good times in the “Gadianton” Band.
Playing the trumpet for church and community activities throughout his life, including the musical Bye Bye Birdie when it was performed by students at Monticello High School, were pure pleasure in spite of the time commitment and work involved. He simply loved music.
Throughout his life, Gene was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He accepted, as an honor, every invitation to serve his God that came to him, but felt greatest joy in friendships formed through his service as a faithful home teacher.
Husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, Gene is known and loved by those he loved and served day-to-day and year-to-year throughout his long life.
Eugene is survived by sister Lorna (Dean) Corder of Soldotna, AK; children Alan of Mesa, AZ; Cynthia (Gary) Buer of Glendale, AZ; DeeAnne Christopherson of Lancaster, CA; Scott (Garla) of Herriman, UT; Sanford (Deanna) of Hurricane, UT; Matthew (Lenay) of Spanish Fork, UT; as well as 37 grandchildren and 72 great-grandchildren. Also dear to him are Lou’s children: Linda (Larry) Greenwood of Richfield, UT; Jim (Debra) Hurst of La Verkin, UT; Kent (Elaine) Hurst of Columbus, TN; Cathy (Dennis) Cosby of Blanding, UT; Todd (Toni) Hurst of Blanding, UT; Joanna (Randy) Hall of Payson, UT, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Eugene is preceded in death by wife Louise (Sessions) Porter; daughter-in-law Arlie (Alan); parents Hyrum and Lucy; and siblings Wilma, Fay, Carol, Barbara, Norwood and Dewey. Blessed be the name, life, and memory of Eugene Warriner Porter.