A life-long Texan born in Nacogdoches, she grew up in Baytown, graduated Robert E. Lee High School 1955, and attended Lee College working for Humble Oil Refinery. She married the love of her life W. Travis Porter, Jr. 1958. She worked in School of Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, for Bechtel in Galveston, Brown & Root in Houston, and then Cooper Industries as corporate administrative assistant until retirement.
Involved in charity through her neighborhood sorority, Dorothy remained active in church choir. She was an extraordinary wife, mother, sister, daughter, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend. All who knew her will long remember her inspiring mirth and warmhearted tenderness.
She was preceded in death by her husband Travis; parents Harvey and Mildred Hardison; and brother, Harold Hardison.
Survivors: Sister, Pat Hardison Hutto (Jim), Arlington; daughters, Cheryl Porter Whipple, Houston, Pamela Porter O’Rourke (Mike), Ardmore, OK; grandchildren, Sara Whipple, John Thomas Whipple, Michelle O’Rourke Wilburn (Matt Lucas), Patrick O’Rourke (Krystle Nomie); great-grandchildren, Brooke Robinson, Emily Wilburn, Elias O’Rourke; niece Christi Hutto Brennan (Jeff), children: Bradley, Rebecca Jane, Wyatt; nephew Todd Hutto (Margaret), children: Seth, Drew; brother-in-law, Dr. J. Winston Porter (Linda), children: Annis, Karen; brother-in-law, Dr. R. Wayne Porter (Debra), children: Jill, Laura and many cousins. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either Houston First United Methodist Church Woodard Fund, 120 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002, where she was a member for decades, or Cedar Bayou Grace United Methodist Church, On Higher Ground Building Fund in memory of the Harvey Hardison Family.
