Fredrick Dailey Porter

Fredrick Dailey Porter, 75, of Rogers, AR, passed away on April 17, 2025. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Hannah Paige Porter; parents, William Fredrick Porter and Rilda Fern Dailey Porter; sister, Merri Gay Porter Bump; and brother, Ralph Edwin Porter. Survived by his wife, Betty Faye Browning Porter; daughter Lindsey Porter Cook and her husband, Blake, and their two children, Eliza and Daly, of Rogers, AR; sister, Billy Porter Hardin of Hot Springs; brother Herb Porter and his wife, Jeanie, of Hot Springs Village; as well as many loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Fred was born on January 5, 1950, in Arnold, Nebraska, and moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, with his family in 1955. He graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1967 and earned a degree from Henderson State University in 1972. Fred began his career with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) as a budget analyst, quickly rising to become the youngest state budget administrator in the country in 1978. He co-authored Zero Base Budgeting in the Public Sector in the same year.

In 1980, Fred was appointed by the Clinton Administration to lead the Arkansas Office of Motor Vehicles. During his 24-year tenure, he helped modernize systems and pioneer the state’s first streamlined auto-renewal program, making Arkansas the first state to allow vehicle registration renewal from home via mail, phone, or the Internet.

Fred held leadership positions in the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), serving as president of Region II (1993-94) and chairman of its International Board (1996—97). He also served as the founding Chair of the International Registration Plan Inc. Board, which manages commercial vehicle registrations across North America.

Upon retirement from the DFA in 2004, Fred accepted the Regional Vice President for Members Services position for AAMVA. It was a role he felt meant to do, and he thoroughly enjoyed working directly with his former peers and their staff throughout the U.S. and Canada. He retired for good in 2013 when he was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Fred had many professional accomplishments, but his most valued ones were personal. He married Betty, the love of his life, and had a 45-year love story, a testament to his loyalty to his family, their deep love for each other, and Fred’s unyielding determination to be a good man. Being a dad to his daughters, Lindsey and Hannah. Being the father of the bride. Becoming a grandparent to his grandson, Daly, and granddaughter, Eliza. Fred’s faith in Jesus Christ. A faith that was deeply tested by the loss of his daughter, Hannah. His tenacity in beating cancer. Fred was given only a few years to live after his first diagnosis, and he did not let it bring him down; he managed to live eleven years after being told by his doctors to expect four.

Fred lived a satisfying life, which included a successful career, an active role in his church communities as a devout Methodist, volunteer work, being a part of the Buffalo Buzzard canoe club, cross-country road trips with his family, countless hours of making home videos of his girls, falling deeply in love with Betty and keeping that love alive throughout his marriage, golfing with his buddies, reading the daily newspaper from front to back, watching the Razorbacks, bonding with his son-in-law, Blake, joking around with anyone who was witty enough to get his dry sense of humor, and having friendships with people from all over the world.

Fred’s greatest loves were his Lord, Jesus Christ; his dear wife and daughters; and his extended family and friends. Fred kept his faith strong until his very last breath. His family feels peace knowing Fred is reunited with his daughter, Hannah. The two of them make a powerful duo of angel wings to watch over those whom he and Hannah loved most, and for this, they are grateful. His friends and family will greatly miss him.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Circle of Life to support patient care and family services at Circle of Life, 901 Jones Road, Springdale AR 72762 or www.GiftsToCircle.org

A celebration of Fred's life will be in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 201 NW 2nd St, Bentonville, AR, at 1 PM on Friday, April 25, 2025. Reception to follow.

His family would like to thank the Circle of Life Hospice staff in Bentonville, AR, for the support and loving care they provided Fred in the final days of his life.