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Terry Don Porter

November 18, 1947 to December 7, 2020

Posted

Terry Don Porter, 73, passed away on Monday, December 7, 2020 in Sun City West, AZ.
He leaves to mourn his beloved wife, Claire Hutchinson; children: Shelby Porter-Ely (Billy) and Dean Porter, grandsons Dominic Porter and Thomas Rooks, brother Fred Porter (Linda Porter) and their children, Brian and Brad Porter, Chis Castor (Rhonda, son Tony), and Kelly Porter-Ferguson (James and daughters Lauryn, Taylor, and Katlyn); and Terry’s brothers-in-law Eric and Arnold Hutchinson. He is also survived by stepson Mark Dailey.
Terry was born in Batesville, Indiana on November 18, 1947 to Geneva and Albert Porter. He grew up in Aurora. He had an idyllic childhood. He loved his country, and as a Boy Scout, was the only one in his class to receive the God and Country Merit Badge.
From a young age, he exhibited artistic abilities, high intelligence and a musical spirit. His father bought him his first set of drums, and he played in bands in high school. His hard work paid off. In 1967, Terry was the drummer on The Lemon Pipers’ hit album, My Green Tambourine.
Terry loved art. He attended Vincennes Junior College and William E. Gephardt School of Commercial Art, where he exhibited amazing talent in abstract-modern art. He exhibited his art at various local and state exhibits.
However, his artistic careers were cut short because of Vietnam: in 1967, he was drafted into the air force. First stationed at McCord AFB in Tacoma, he was then sent to the U.S. base in Da Nang, Vietnam, where he was almost killed three times. In 1969, Terry was decorated with the Presidential Citation Award as part of the 367th Gunfighters. He believed God had spared him for a larger purpose. Following Vietnam, he was stationed at Davis-Monthan Airforce Base in Tucson, AZ.
Upon discharge in 1971, Terry went to Indiana University and took Radio and Telecommunications. He also worked at Cummins Diesel. He quit Cummins after seven years, and became an assistant chef in Washington, DC for about a year.
When he returned home to Indiana, Terry worked as a Tech Writer at Naval Avionics for 16 years before his retirement at age 55.
In 1982, he married Treon Sue Thompson, who was the mother of his beloved children, Shelby and Dean. In 1993, he married Terri Lee Dailey, who was the mother of his beloved stepson Mark. Both marriages failed. He married Claire Hutchinson in 2013 and she was his devoted wife until his passing.
He loved his farm in Flat Rock, nature, birds, gardening, and his many pets.
Terry was an industrious person. He was a Writer’s Guild of America signatory agent, representing clients through Agape Productions and The Terry Porter Agency. And he was the CEO of Flat Rock Motion Pictures, ran Flat Rock Records and operated his own music booking agency.
Terry was one of the first Christian agents in Hollywood. He was never ashamed of his faith in an industry that is sometimes averse to Christian values. In his latter years, he became fully immersed in the Christian film industry. As co-owner of Ambassador Communications with his wife, he was the co-producer of the Christian comedy film entitled Living the Dream.
Ultimately, Terry Porter was a man of deep faith. This showed in how he loved generously, wholly and humbly. He called himself a shepherd of the flock. He loved his wife, Claire, with all his heart and soul, and they shared many good years together with their common love of Jesus, film and writing. He dearly loved his children, Shelby and Dean, and always stayed in touch with them. He loved his brother, Fred, and was thankful that Fred lived nearby. He loved his many friends. He loved his church, Trinity Bible Church. Most of all, he loved Jesus. Terry was a man of God.
Terry had a patient and gentle spirit, was soft spoken, and had a great sense of humor. He was also a great storyteller, whether it was stories from his childhood, his music days, Vietnam, or his time in the film business.
The Apostle Paul said: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Terry, you ran the race well. You are an inspiration to us all.
Two memorial services will be held: one in Sun City West, Arizona at Trinity Bible Church, 14811 W. R.H. Johnson Blvd. on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 at 2:00 P.M. The other service with full military honors will be held at Mt. Auburn Christian Church in Edinburgh, Indiana, on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at 10:00 A.M, followed by interment in Flat Rock Cemetery, Flat Rock, Indiana. If you would like to attend either service, but are not a church member or relative, please RSVP to clairescreenwriter@gmail.com.
Donations in Terry’s memory can be made to the American Heart Association.
Camino Del Sol Funeral Chapel and Cremation Center, 13738 W. Camino del Sol, Sun City West, AZ 85375, 623-584-6299 in care of arrangements.