Robert Porter

The Rev. Robert "Hervey" Porter, 86, died Thursday, September 27, in a Lincoln hospital.

Memorial Services were held 2:00 P.M. Monday at the Aurora United Methodist Church. The Rev. Hughes B. Morris Jr. and the Rev. M. Manick Samuel will officiate. Inurnment was held in the Aurora Cemetery.

The Rev. Porter was born January 1, 1904, at Burnside, Illinois, to William and Nellie Childs Porter. He came to Nebraska as a child moving with his parents to Holbrook, Beaver City and Benkelman. He attended Wesleyan University and the University of Nebraska. He completed his theological training from Nashville, Tennessee and was ordained as an elder as in the United Methodist Church in 1961.

On August 5, 1926, he married Doris Bomberger at Council Bluffs, Iowa. He served as music and youth director in the Ray Waters Evangelistic Party in San Antonio, Texas; he was superintendent of the Parks Consolidated School System for nine years. He served as special agent and agency supervisor of the Bankers Life Co. for 21 years; he was administrative assistant at the First Methodist Church in Hastings for two years, then associated minister for three years. He served churches at Phillips and Giltner, Big Springs, Osmond, Crawford, Valley, Eddyville and Oconto. He retired from active ministry in 1976 and located in Aurora in 1976.

During his life he was a member of the Demolay of Hastings; Masonic Lodge in Benkelman, where he was honored with a 50-year badge; was a member of the Order of Eastern Star in both Benkelman and in McCook and was past worthy patron; belonged to the Nebraska State Teachers Association; was a past lieutenant governor of the Kiwanis Club of McCook; scout master of Troop 147 of McCook for 22 years and skipper of the Sea Scout in McCook for nine years. He was holder of the Silver Beaver Award in Scouting, holder of the Ak-Sar-Ben Good Neighbor Award; president of Carnegie's Library Board in McCook; Red Cross first aid instructor in McCook; chairman of the City Recreation Board of McCook; Republican Valley Life Underwriters Association; President's Club of the Bankers Life Company; Adams County Red Cross Board at Hastings; Hastings Kiwanis Club, Nebraska United Methodist statistician for eight years, secretary-treasurer of the Nebraska Conference Mutual Aid Association; belonged to the Hamilton County Administration Association; was assistant state director of the American Association of Retired Persons; sang in or directed choirs for 70 years; was a private violin instructor from 1925 to 1986; directed the Masonic Mens Chorus in McCook and in retirement he directed the men's chorus and sang in the church choir of the United Methodist Church of Aurora.

Survivors include his wife, Doris of Aurora; two sons, Robert Hervey Porter of Kalispell, Montanta and the Rev. Gerald William Porter of Salem, Massachusetts; one daughter, Phullis Agner of Kalispell, Montana; four grandsons; and two great-grandchildren.