James E. "Jimmy" Porterfield

James E. “Jimmy” Porterfield, 93, passed away on April 15, 2026. Born May 8, 1932, in Cedar Springs, Texas, Jimmy was the son of Ernest and Lily (Huddleston) Porterfield. He lived in Waco, Texas, where he built a life marked by steady devotion, quiet strength, and a gentle way of being with others.

Jimmy dedicated 38 years of hard work to Clark Concrete Company, retiring in 1995. Through decades of faithful labor, he earned the respect of those who knew him as someone patient in effort, dependable in responsibility, and consistent in the care he took with the work set before him.

On December 2, 1961, Jimmy married Lorene Rutkoski in Waco. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lorene Porterfield; daughters, Tammy Toscano, Marian Murphy, and Cindy Wyatt and husband Johnny; grandchildren: James Foreman, Ashley Toscano, Megan Toscano, Courtney Toscano, and Austin Murphy and wife, Julia; and great-grandchildren, Bentley and Jimmy Murphy. His family was the center of his life, and his devotion was shown not in grand display, but in steadfast presence and enduring love.

A man of faith, Jimmy attended Emmanuel Baptist church in Waco. Away from work and home responsibilities, he found peace outdoors—fishing on the Brazos River and off the jetty at Port Aransas, Texas. He also took deep satisfaction in carpentry, spending time in his shop at home building with wood, shaping useful and lasting things with the same care and gentleness that characterized the way he lived.

Graveside services will be 2:00 PM, Monday at Powers Chapel Cemetery with the Reverend Marcelo Oliveira officiating.

The family would like to thank the staff of Wesley Woods Rehabilitation Facility and Providence Hospice for their loving care.