PATTEN – Colby Olin Porter, 76, known as “Mike” to his family and friends, died Aug. 21, 2007, at a Houlton health care facility. He died peacefully after a long illness with his sons at his side. He was born Dec. 7, 1930, in Crystal, the son of Andrew and Sona Grace (Ham) Porter. Mike attended schools in Crystal and Island Falls as a youth, and proudly graduated from Katahdin High School in 1974, as one of the first students in the adult education program. He was employed for 38 years in various capacities; by Sherman Lumber Co., retiring in 1993 as a yard foreman and scaler. Mike loved the outdoors, spending many happy hours trapping, hunting, and tending his garden. He was a communicant of St. Agnes-St. Paul Catholic Parish. He was predeceased by his wife of 49 years, Patricia (Noonan) Porter, in 2001; and by brothers, Richard, Wayne, Oakley, Arthur, Ralph, and Harris. He is survived by his sons, Brent of St. James, N.Y., and Mark of Washington, D.C.; by sisters, Jeanne Smallwood of Patten, and Annie Jane Smith of Island Falls; by brothers, Maurice of Crystal, and Raymond of Adams, Mass.; by a special daughter-in-law, Irene Farrelly of New York City; a special brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Sandra Noonan of Patten; and by numerous nieces and nephews. The family extends special thanks to the staff of Madigan House, Houlton, where Mike lived the past four and one half years among caring friends and devoted health care professionals. Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Bowers Funeral Home, Island Falls. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Friday at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Patten, with the Father Eddy Morin, celebrant. Interment will be at Patten Cemetery.
COLBY ‘MIKE’ PORTER
