Mrs. Paula Porter, 85, of McMinnville died Sunday, July 11, on the date of her late husband’s birthday.
She was born Nov. 13, 1935 in Lincoln, IL. She was a retired registered nurse and a member of First Baptist Church in McMinnville where she was instrumental in the origination of the Prayer Shawl Ministry. She graduated with the class of 1956 from the East Tennessee Baptist School of Nursing, and worked as a registered nurse with the Faulkner Springs Hospital, Warren County General Hospital, and River Park Hospital. Paula liked to read, hike, travel, and enjoyed wild flowers. Mrs. Porter was preceded in death by her parents Kenneth Thomas and Julia Josephine Grisham Boster, husband Edward S. Porter, and brother Kenneth Barry Boster.
Survivors include her daughters Kimberly Ann (Larry Williams) Porter of Maryville, Greta (Rickey) Minton of McMinnville, and Andrea Porter of McMinnville, sister-in-law Judy Boster of Union, Ky., grandchildren Julia Compton, Jacob Hicks, Allie (Preston) Burke, Zachary (Kati) Minton, Wesley (Victoria) Minton, Kaci (Justin) Woodlee, and Will (Lindsey) Lupo, great-grandchildren Brock, Brett, and Reagan Compton, Paxton and Kennedy Burke, Lake and Landon Minton, Aubrey Minton, Ansley and Porter Woodlee, and Reese Lupo who is due to arrive October 2021. Several nieces, nephews, and other family friends also survive.
The funeral service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 14, at McMinnville Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Mark Karki and Rev. Bo Hendrix will officiate. Interment will follow at Gardens of Memory Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the parlors of McMinnville Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the State Park Program “Planting Seeds for the Future” – either to Savage Gulf, Fall Creek Falls, or to Rock Island State Park in Paula’s memory. The family wishes to express a special thank you to the caregivers and staff of NHC HealthCare for the excellent care provided to their mother and for going above and beyond the call of duty for the entire family. Online condolences may be made at www.mcminnvillefuneralhome.com.
McMinnville Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) July 14, 2021
