Remembering Denis Porter

I have a total of 3, 10′x10′ easy ups I can bring, and I can also provide a large industrial type bbq’er, charcoal, wood type. Let me know if you are interested in any or all of it. I as well will need directions please, Thanks, Todd~

Mindy— please email me a map. Thanks!

Denis saw me grow from a little 4 year old kid to the 15 year old kid I am now. one of the things Denis always said to me was “Joey lets see whos is bigger!” haha He was talking about the scar we had in the same spot on our stomachs. I always told myself and alot of people that i hope i get to accomplish atleast half as much as denis had. He always had something funny to say for everything. and i especially loved sitting around the fire on late bakersfield nights with everybody listening to denis’ millions and millions of storys and none of them were boring. He had a way of telling storys that no matter the subject I was always interested. and thank you soooo much denis for teaching me how to drive the hondo. it was the most amazing time i have ever had. I wish you didnt have to leave so soon denis but theres nothing any of us can do now.

I have only known Denis a few years. But as we all know if you knew him, its like you had been friends for ever. Thats just the way he made you feel. My son and i were pretty much happy with our blown alcohol jet boat. Then we met denis. We met at the races and were totaly blown away by his knowlage and friendship he offered. We saw and talked to him at many events we went to. So one day at cfw he tells my son we need a prop on our boat to go fast. So kenny comes to me and says ‘ hey dad mr. Porter said i can go for a ride in his hondo can i go? ‘ so i said ok. 30 mins later hes back asking if we can sell the jet and buy a boat like his because its really fast and it turns. Well now kenny is 21 and thanks to denis and andy herbert we have a flat and a hydro. I was on the phone with denis on tuesday talking about rigging on the flat. And we were coming to the party early so i could learn to fly and ken to learn flats. He always sought ur out to say hello no matter where we were. Denis we will miss you. R I P

I met Dennis around 5 years ago while working on an engineering project, and I have never met such an influential person in my life. Not only did I learn so many engineering techniques from him, but I also learned from him how to be a better person in general… I’m really going to miss you Dennis, and I’ll be at your party just like I said I would. It was truly an honor knowing you.
-Carlos

Last year at CFW, Dennis taught me how to drive his Hondo, He had spent A good portion of his morning over coffee with me showing and teaching me the whys and what for’s and all the functions of his flat.
His next line was DID YOU BRING SOME FUEL, I said I sure did, He said grab it let’s go, Dennis then took me for a ride and showed me what he was doing, and then explained to me what and why he was doing it. After running that tank of fuel out, He said let’s let her cool off and we’ll do it again.
An hour or so later Dennis came up to me and said are you ready, I said hell yeah, Dennis taught me how to launch his Hondo, then taught me on the shut down, and when he thought I was ready he said nail this bitch, And I did, That was the first time I had ever been behind the wheel of a flat.

The beautiful thing about Dennis Porter, That was the first time I had ever met the man, And for him to do which he had done for me that day Is and was truly priceless, And to find out that was the type of man Dennis Porter was.

RIP. My friend. Our prayers go out to Heidi, and family.

Denis was one of the first customers I had that took the time to come into the Lockwood Post Office and tell me about his business and what he needed. Granted, in a small rural post office, you don’t have a lot a resources to work with… one truck in, one truck out a day… but he wanted to understand what was available to help him do his business in the community. He must’ve appreciated my honesty because we became great friends for the seven years I served as postmaster… whether it was getting me out on the lake in his boat, repairing pinholes in the floats of my old motorcycle, or playing ‘chase’ car for that damned ultralight he used to nose in every other flight, we found something in common. He helped me when I had a crisis in my life that ended up taking me to Montana, and he was the first person to track me down after seventeen years being out of touch. Denis and Heidi’s hospitality in March of this year, putting me up for a week, getting me out to see some of the old friends I’d missed since I left in 1993 meant a lot to me. I was broken up to hear of his passing, but everyone who knew the man, knew Denis lived his life on the edge, he wouldn’t have had it any other way. I admired him and wished I could have lived my life more like him.

One of the many memories I have had the pleasure of remebering was Dennis and his ultra light plane buzzing around lockwood! He would always get up early and take off around 9am or so, make a loop and come back to buzz my bedroom window cause he knew i was still sleeping and I just laughed cause I knew he was being a big kid again! Or the first time I went flying with him and he tilts the plane over and flips off some ones house. Then buzzez the lockwood trailer park for fun and as we headed to the north end of the lake a couple of hawks fly beside us for a few moments and i look over at dennis and just see a look of peace in his eyes, and then he starts stalling the plane and telling me theres something wrong with the instruments and hope you have your seat belt on! LOL. I know hes going to make his rounds to visit us all and i’m ready for the cups to start floating and the lights to start flickering or a loud noise in the morning cause I sleep to much! Dennis you are the greatest person I have ever met even though I didn’t get to spend as much time with you as i would have liked to I will always remeber the talks we had and the stories you told and also the encouragement to do something with your life! I have that ringing through my head more than ever now and yes Dennis I have got the ball rolling now! But for now I will sleep with the light on, and have a camera close by to catch your mischief in action rest well buddy you have had one hell of a ride!

Dennis was my little cousin, always the one that would take charge and make us do things we sometimes didn’t want to, he was most like his dad, Uncle Clairence, always a daredevil in anything he did. We grew up around boats and waterskiing from the time we learned to walk. Unfortunately all of us cousins moved to outer places and we lost touch unless there was a death or celebration. The last time we saw him was on my Mom’s 85 birthday, 3 years ago, and he was the same Dennis that I grew up with.
I do remember a time when Heidi, Dennis, Mark (my husband) and I went to “The Hop” we had a ball and they kept reminding me I was dancing on the table but I don’t remember, too much to drink I bet. To Heidi and her family I want to send our condolences and blessings in this sad time of their lives, he will be missed but he went out with a roar the way he would want, God Bless you all, Lorna Smith