Robert 'Bob' Porter

SIKES-TON, Mo. — Robert “Bob” Porter, 86, of Sikeston died Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Aug. 20, 1930, in Flint, Michigan, to the late E.O. and Edith Davis Porter, but spent most of his younger years in Campbell, Missouri, where both his maternal and paternal families resided.

In 1941, he moved to Sikeston where he and his wife, Norma, co-owned and operated Faultless Dry Cleaners and Laundry for 50 years until their retirement. Following retirement, he worked part-time at the Sikeston Standard-Democrat newspaper for an additional 11 years.

As a graduate of Sikeston High School, he was captain of the SHS football and basketball teams. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served during the Korean War, 65-year member of Sikeston Henry Meldrum American Legion Post No. 114, charter member and past officer of Sikeston Elks Lodge No. 2319, and a member of the Sikeston Jaycees where he served as president, rodeo chairman, and had been recognized as a Jaycee Man of the Year. He was a longtime active member of Hunter Memorial Presbyterian Church in Sikeston, a member of Sikeston Masonic Lodge No. 310 AF&AM, he had obtained his 32nd degree as a Mason of the Scottish Rite, was a Shriner of the Moolah Temple in St. Louis, member and past president of the SEMO Shrine Club, and participated as a Shriner clown by the name of “Raggs” at local parades and events.

In 1948, he married Norma Walker, who preceded him in death Aug. 9, 2016.

Surviving are one son and daughter-in-law, Rob (Mona) Porter of Cape Girardeau; one daughter and son-in-law, Leigh Ann (Chris) Keller of Tulsa, Oklahoma; three grandchildren, Jason Porter (Heather Ford) of Cape Girardeau and Katherine Koch (Jacob) and Jake Keller, both of Tulsa; and several special nieces and nephews, dear to his heart.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by one brother, Owen Gene Porter, and one sister, Charles Porter Brown.

Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Hunter Memorial Presbyterian Church, 723 Allen Blvd. in Sikeston, where a memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. The Rev. Ron Beardsley of Sikeston will officiate. Sikeston Masonic Lodge No. 310 AF&AM will conduct Masonic rites, and the Missouri Military Honor Guard will conduct military rites.

Lunch will be served in the church annex immediately following the service.

The family requests memorial contributions be given to Hunter Memorial First Presbyterian Church, 723 Allen Blvd., Sikeston, MO 63801, or the Sikeston Bulldog Booster Club, c/o Melissa Ensor (secretary), 710 Mimosa Drive, Sikeston, MO 63801.

Services are under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston, Missouri.