Obituary of Daniel Lee Porter, Sr.

Daniel Lee Porter, Sr, 72, of Moorpark, California, passed away on October 10, 2014 at Los Robles Hospital, Thousand Oaks, California. He was born to the late Lee and Mary Porter on January 20, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. His family moved to Inyokern, California when he was a young boy and then moved back to Kentucky where his father was a minister for many years. They moved to Paducah, Kentucky when he was approximately eight years old where his father pastored Calvary Assembly of God Church. He graduated from Tilghman High School in 1961 and attended Springfield Bible College until he met his wife, Hilda Rae Massey, and married October 11, 1963. They lived in Paducah until 1973 where their two children were born, Daniel Lee Porter, Jr, September 18, 1964 and Yolanda Ann (Porter) Halston, August 29, 1969. He worked at Commonwealth Life Insurance as a sales representative until he and his family moved to Granada Hills, California in October, 1973. They moved to Simi Valley, California in 1980 and then to Moorpark, California in 2006. He was a man with many interests. He and his wife, Hilda, sang and played music in his father’s church. He played football in high school and was in the high school marching band, playing the tuba and saxophone. He loved the outdoors - boating, skiing, camping, motorcycling, bicycle riding. When the family first moved to California, he worked with his cousin in the construction industry. For several years they remodeled the Los Angeles headquarters building of the Automobile Club of Southern California. In 1984 he studied and obtained his General Contractor’s license and his long career in construction continued in both commercial and residential home building and remodeling. In 1973, Dan and his family settled in a church home, Northridge Assembly of God, Northridge, California where he was heavily involved in music. He was the choir director, a soloist and sang with Hilda and his children. He installed and maintained the sound system and was a deacon on the board. He was on the church softball team. When it was decided to remodel the church, he was the one who was called on to almost completely rebuild the original church and add a recreational facility/gymnasium/kitchen where many church functions were enjoyed by all ages. In California he continued to enjoy the outdoors. The family made many trips to Yosemite where he thoroughly enjoyed hiking and camping. Then to Mammoth and June Mountains for snow skiing. He loved the mountains and hills. Then to the ocean to ride the bike path. Before Big Sky engulfed the north hills of Simi Valley, he and Hilda would ride mountain bikes several days a week. He loved the challenge of climbing the hills. He was a huge fan of the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team and wouldn’t miss watching a game. His sister, Margie, in Kentucky wouldn’t let him forget when they were playing. For many years he had talked about taking a vacation to Moab, Utah. His last bucket list desire was realized this year in June when his wife, a friend, 3 brothers and their wives met there for a week’s visit. He was able to enjoy riding on the petrified sand dunes in the beautiful hills of Moab. He never stopped talking about that trip. He is preceded in death by his father, Lee Harry Porter, mother, Mary Ethel (Turner) Porter. He is survived by his wife, Hilda (Massey) Porter of Moorpark, California, one son, Daniel Lee Porter, Jr of Moorpark, California, one daughter, Yolanda (Porter) Halston of Malibu, California, 4 grandchildren, Drew Porter, Paige Porter, Avalon Halston and Maverick Halston, one sister, Marjorie Travis of Owensboro, Kentucky, three brothers, David Porter of Owensboro, Kentucky, Mark Porter of Lawrenceville, Georgia and Timothy Porter of Owensboro, Kentucky. We will miss him dearly but we know he is in a better place. We rejoice in the knowledge of the plan of salvation and knowing that someday we will see him again. Memorial Service will be held Saturday, October 18, 11:00 AM at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, 2864 Sycamore Drive, Simi Valley, CA