Western Slope Obituaries 1-31-11
Harold Porter, 95, of Delta, Colo., passed away January 13, 2011 among family and friends.
He was a native son of Colorado, bedrock of the Delta County Community for over 65 years, and the personification of the word “Cowboy.”
Harold was born the third son of five brothers and sisters to Harl and Evelyn Porter on July 1, 1915 in the small town of Wetmore, Colo. Following the loss of his mother at age nine, Harold oversaw the family land and stock while his sister cared for the siblings; adversity focusing his talent and creating the foundation of the cattleman he was to become. Working tirelessly as a cowboy on the Eastern Slope, Harold finished his education in Eagle County while his natural gift as a rancher allowed him to rise in the Benton Livestock Company. At a Social hosted by the Company, Harold met Margret Brooks and fell in love.
Harold and Margaret were married in 1936 at age 21, establishing their first ranch in Eagle County with 10 head of cattle and a bull on loan. They moved to Garfield County as the ranch expanded, and shortly after their only daughter Kay was born, moved to Delta, Colo., in 1945. Up or down, lean or rich, in good times and tough, the Cowboy and his Western Lady would spend an amazing 73 years at one another’s side. From such humble beginnings, though honesty, integrity, perseverance, and an encyclopedic knowledge of the land, this peerless Cowboy managed 500 head and 30 miles of pasture and farmland with just two extra hands.
At age 70 Harold decided to “retire” from ranching; as long as one defines retirement as riding horseback alone to Grand or California Mesa, catching and selling the occasional maverick steer, hunting, as well as being a championship rider in Team Penning. Even after Harold stopped breaking horses, mules and working a few head of cattle at age 89, he would always be found attending the Delta Livestock sales on Thursdays, as well as any demonstration with good working dogs.
He is survived by his grandson Scott Armstrong, of Pensacola, Fla., as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Kay and wife Margaret.
Memorial services were held January 17, 2011 at the Delta United Methodist Church.
Interment followed at Mesa View Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kay Armstrong Scholarship Fund, administered by the Western Colorado Community Foundation (P.O. Box 4334, Grand Junction, Colo., 81502) which goes to deserving young High School Graduates of Delta County.
Harold Porter, 95, of Delta, Colo., passed away January 13, 2011 among family and friends.
He was a native son of Colorado, bedrock of the Delta County Community for over 65 years, and the personification of the word “Cowboy.”
Harold was born the third son of five brothers and sisters to Harl and Evelyn Porter on July 1, 1915 in the small town of Wetmore, Colo. Following the loss of his mother at age nine, Harold oversaw the family land and stock while his sister cared for the siblings; adversity focusing his talent and creating the foundation of the cattleman he was to become. Working tirelessly as a cowboy on the Eastern Slope, Harold finished his education in Eagle County while his natural gift as a rancher allowed him to rise in the Benton Livestock Company. At a Social hosted by the Company, Harold met Margret Brooks and fell in love.
Harold and Margaret were married in 1936 at age 21, establishing their first ranch in Eagle County with 10 head of cattle and a bull on loan. They moved to Garfield County as the ranch expanded, and shortly after their only daughter Kay was born, moved to Delta, Colo., in 1945. Up or down, lean or rich, in good times and tough, the Cowboy and his Western Lady would spend an amazing 73 years at one another’s side. From such humble beginnings, though honesty, integrity, perseverance, and an encyclopedic knowledge of the land, this peerless Cowboy managed 500 head and 30 miles of pasture and farmland with just two extra hands.
At age 70 Harold decided to “retire” from ranching; as long as one defines retirement as riding horseback alone to Grand or California Mesa, catching and selling the occasional maverick steer, hunting, as well as being a championship rider in Team Penning. Even after Harold stopped breaking horses, mules and working a few head of cattle at age 89, he would always be found attending the Delta Livestock sales on Thursdays, as well as any demonstration with good working dogs.
He is survived by his grandson Scott Armstrong, of Pensacola, Fla., as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Kay and wife Margaret.
Memorial services were held January 17, 2011 at the Delta United Methodist Church.
Interment followed at Mesa View Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kay Armstrong Scholarship Fund, administered by the Western Colorado Community Foundation (P.O. Box 4334, Grand Junction, Colo., 81502) which goes to deserving young High School Graduates of Delta County.
Harold Porter, 95, of Delta, Colo., passed away January 13, 2011 among family and friends.
He was a native son of Colorado, bedrock of the Delta County Community for over 65 years, and the personification of the word “Cowboy.”
Harold was born the third son of five brothers and sisters to Harl and Evelyn Porter on July 1, 1915 in the small town of Wetmore, Colo. Following the loss of his mother at age nine, Harold oversaw the family land and stock while his sister cared for the siblings; adversity focusing his talent and creating the foundation of the cattleman he was to become. Working tirelessly as a cowboy on the Eastern Slope, Harold finished his education in Eagle County while his natural gift as a rancher allowed him to rise in the Benton Livestock Company. At a Social hosted by the Company, Harold met Margret Brooks and fell in love.
Harold and Margaret were married in 1936 at age 21, establishing their first ranch in Eagle County with 10 head of cattle and a bull on loan. They moved to Garfield County as the ranch expanded, and shortly after their only daughter Kay was born, moved to Delta, Colo., in 1945. Up or down, lean or rich, in good times and tough, the Cowboy and his Western Lady would spend an amazing 73 years at one another’s side. From such humble beginnings, though honesty, integrity, perseverance, and an encyclopedic knowledge of the land, this peerless Cowboy managed 500 head and 30 miles of pasture and farmland with just two extra hands.
At age 70 Harold decided to “retire” from ranching; as long as one defines retirement as riding horseback alone to Grand or California Mesa, catching and selling the occasional maverick steer, hunting, as well as being a championship rider in Team Penning. Even after Harold stopped breaking horses, mules and working a few head of cattle at age 89, he would always be found attending the Delta Livestock sales on Thursdays, as well as any demonstration with good working dogs.
He is survived by his grandson Scott Armstrong, of Pensacola, Fla., as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Kay and wife Margaret.
Memorial services were held January 17, 2011 at the Delta United Methodist Church.
Interment followed at Mesa View Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kay Armstrong Scholarship Fund, administered by the Western Colorado Community Foundation (P.O. Box 4334, Grand Junction, Colo., 81502) which goes to deserving young High School Graduates of Delta County.
