Submit a PhotoLaNor Johnson Porter, 87, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2021 in her home in Queen Creek, Arizona. LaNor led a long and happy life centered around her loving family.
LaNor was born on October 18, 1933 in Orangeville, Utah to Alvin Johnson and Elverta Cox Johnson.
She married her long time pen pal, Merrial Dee Porter on July 1, 1952 who was serving our nation in the Korean war. They were married in the Manti Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Manti, Utah.
They lived in Utah for a short time after they were married, then settled in the Mesa/Gilbert, Arizona area where they raised their seven daughters and one son.
She focused her life on family, church, music, crafting, sewing and ceramics. She loved providing beautiful wedding decorations and services for lucky couples for years.
LaNor served a full-time mission for the Church as a Senior Sister in the Columbia, South Carolina Mission from June, 2004 until January, 2006.
She is survived by a sister, Judy Durfee from Levan, Utah and daughters Pam Rackley, Barbara Morris, Jennifer Valenzuela, Jettalee McKinney, Angie Hansen, April Porter, Jolynn Caudle, as well as a son, William Porter. She has twenty-eight surviving grandchildren, sixty-four great grandchildren and fourteen great-great grandchildren.
There will be a viewing at the Gilbert Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2100 E Queen Creek Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85297 on Thursday, April 1, 2021 from 5:00pm until 6:30pm. A short service will then be held directly after that from 6:30pm until 7:30pm.
She will be laid to rest next to husband at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.
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So sorry for your loss. She was such a good person .
I love hearing and seeing all the sewing she did with you . She was a great mom and will be missed.
She was a very kind lady.
John adored her and love talking with her when he worked at her house.
Dear Porter family, I’m sorry to hear your mother passed. She lived a long & very productive life. All my best to each of you at this difficult time. With much love, Becky J Killpack
Dear Porter Family, Mark and I are so sorry for your loss. I loved LaNor like a mother and a friend. I’ve know her from our Mesquite Ward for the last 23 years. I love LaNor very much. She is one of the best people ever born. She was as Christ-like as anyone I’ve ever known. There was nothing but love, goodness, kindness, and patience in this wonderful woman. I never heard her say an unkind thing. I never heard her angry. I never heard her even raise her voice. She was the most non-judgmental person that ever lived too. And to top it off she was so fun! Oh enjoyed her company immensely. I also was the lucky recipient of her great talent for crafts I’m going to miss her so much. I’m so glad LaNor that you get to be with Mert after all these years are apart. ❤️😘❤️ Love forever, Debbie
She was a beautiful and Christlike woman. I was lucky enough to know her. Happy for her reunion with her love!
Such a sweet sweet lady. Condolences to your family.
I loved that Lanor always had a kind word, an encouraging word, and a sweet smile. She always put a positive twist on things and no challenge was to big or hard to tackle. I am grateful for her good example. I’m sorry for your loss, but I am also sure there is a lot of celebrating going on in Heaven! Love to your family! Ruth and Keith Biggs
LaNor was an angel on earth! We’ve known her for 22+ years and she was always a delight to be around. She was like a second mother for us, and she will be so missed. We know she has graduated with honors and is celebrating with her dear hubby. We’re so happy for her!
heyyy I was her grand daughter and I miss her so much I have been with her my whole life we alway crafted and painted and did so many more thing I love her so much we always had sleep overs and I had so much fun I still have all the stuff she made me and gave to me also my duck aka Mr.ducky I can sleep with out him I love you so much I miss you so much Gramma