Mark Chadwick Porter

Mark Chadwick Porter, 82, returned to the God who gave him life on October 2 at his son’s home in Mendon. During his final days of mortality, he was surrounded by his wife of 52 years, all of his children and their spouses, many of his grandchildren, and his siblings. Being enveloped in their love brought him immense peace and joy. While the final years of Mark’s life were marked with the darkness of severe mental illness, his family finds solace in fond memories of his goodness and the infinite grace of a loving Savior, Who knows all depths that He may lift us back to Him and our Holy Father. 

Mark was born on May 4, 1942 in Whitney, Idaho to his loving parents, Audene and Ken Porter. He was the second of 11 children. Mark enjoyed sharing tales of his childhood that included Popeye forearms built by hours of milking Holsteins and Guernseys and adopting 5 baby skunks after accidentally killing their mother with ether, which was administered in hopes of removing her “stink bag” so she could be kept as a pet. Instead, he won a blue ribbon at the county fair for his 5 little friends and became the official Franklin County skunk exterminator. 

Upon graduation from Preston High School where he was a cheerleader, Mark became a member of the National Guard. He often reminisced about peeling pounds of potatoes and perfecting the art of SOS gravy during his service. Upon completion, Mark served a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints in the Central Atlantic States Mission. 

On July 2, 1965 Mark was sealed to Jill Karren in the Logan temple. He remembered first seeing her peeking around the corner as he fixed her mother’s washing machine when he was 14. Together they raised 8 children as well as several Navajo foster children. Mark had a deep love for the Navajo people and went out of his way to care for his foster son, Philbert, until his death in 2005. Mark and Jill lived in several places before settling in the cul-de-sac of 1100 north in Logan where the family lived for 40 years. This neighborhood provided the stuff of childhood dreams: treehouses, night games, Christmas light spectaculars, and neighborhood breakfast parties complete with a bugle wakeup call. More importantly, it was filled with earthly angels who proved to be answers to Porter prayers on a regular basis. Mark’s family would like to express their deep gratitude for these dear friends. 

Mark’s children remember his love of music ranging from Johnny Cash to the Three Tenors. Rodgers and Hammerstein's musicals were regularly aired with Mark’s baritone voice singing or whistling along. He was known to mimic his daughter’s dance moves. Tickling feet and silly faces were balanced by nursing sick children through the night and spending hours gardening with them. When outdoors it was most common to see Mark donning a fedora. His popcorn became a fan-favorite and posterity have carried on his habit of using Red Hot as a regular condiment. Mark’s passions included potato chips, Yerba mate, mint truffles and ice cream with milk. But nothing trumped his patriotism and love for The Book of Mormon. 

Mark is survived by his ex-wife, Jill Porter of Lewiston, Utah; his 8 children, Teena Horlacher, Shellie Judkins, Mike (Melissa) Porter, Fran (Mike) Palmer, Julee (Dave) Bunch, Paul (Jami) Porter, Nancy (Burt) Willie, and Andrew (Libby) Porter; 44 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 9 siblings. He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Larue Daw.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at 12:00 noon in the Whitney LDS chapel, 1444 South 1600 East, in Preston, Idaho. A viewing will be held Wednesday from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in the Whitney Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be share with the family at webbmortuary.com Services will be available to stream live Wednesday at 12:00 p.m. MDT at the following link:

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