Ivan Richard Porter
of Conway, Arkansas
April 12, 1955- November 24, 2025
“There he goes.  One of God’s own prototypes.  A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production.  Too weird to live, and too rare to die.” – Hunter Thompson

Ivan Richard “Ricky” Porter, 70, born in Salida, CO on April 12,1955 to Ivan and Reba Porter, passed away on November 24th, 2025 in Conway, Arkansas surrounded by his loving family and friends.

Richard was preceded in death by his beloved parents, his brother in laws, Allan Bruner, Brad Dudley and Greg Wren as well as his father in laws, Bob Dudley and Edward Tolley.  He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Brenda Lynnette (Dudley) Porter of Conway, AR; son Ivan Nicholas Porter of Northwest Arkansas and daughter Sarah Elizabeth Porter of Dallas, Texas, mother-in-law, Barbara Tolley of Conway, AR and Dallas, TX, his brother-in-law Barry Dudley, his sister Patti and brother-in-law Michael Hendricks, sisters Pam Wren and Paula Bruner… as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

We thought he was indestructible.  Richard to some, Ricky to many, was truly one of a kind.  Genuine, up front, and a mile a minute.  Everyone refers to him as a character but that’s just because nobody knows anyone else like him.  A legend.  Ricky graduated from Northeast High School in North Little Rock, AR in 1972.  He was an Eagle Scout, and he truly embodied the tenets of honor, duty to God and to country.  Upon graduation, he attended Hendrix College and graduated in 1976 as the lone member of the Young Republicans Association receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.  Richard then earned his Master’s in Business Administration in 1981at the University of Arkansas.

Richard went on to work in marketing and finance at Merrill Lynch, Fidelity and then settled into his career as a Mortgage Banker while building a family in the late 80s and 90s in North Dallas.  He was the hardest worker in the room, but more than anything he loved his family and friends like none other.

Richard was lucky to have crossed paths with Brenda in 1981 and was immediately drawn and confused by this red-headed hippie chick from Texas wearing army fatigues, a pearl snap shirt and cowboy boots while he was busy donning the latest and greatest Brooks’ Brothers attire he spent his entire paycheck on when they met at the horse-races in Oaklawn with his friends from Hendrix and mom’s sorority sisters from SMU.  They were the world’s best team.

In 1988, Nicholas (aka Nick) was born and in 1991, Sarah Elizabeth (Sarah Beth) was born. Richard’s greatest joy was his family.  Even if he was always hustling around on a pager or cell phone working, he made every game, recital, competition, church play, you name it.  He may have been donning a cigarette or a splash of Johnnie Walker Black in the water bottle thermos, but he was omnipresent.

Richard and Brenda were incredibly involved at Prince of Peace Christian School and Lutheran Church in Carrollton, TX during those years where Brenda was an educator and helped build the early childhood program from the ground up.  Richard was incredibly talented and the most passionate person you could ever come across.  Whether it was throwing a party, partying, listening to music, dancing, calling the Hogs, going to Bible studies, making a flower arrangement or doing decorations for weddings, he poured every ounce of his passion into the world, whether the world was ready or not.  He was passionate about History and “learning moments” and was full of ‘em.  He loved the United States of America. He was an avid Razorback fan and took immense pride in being one of those Hendrix crazies.  Richard loved adventure, travel, going to ball games, talking about politics and solving the world’s problems one porch conversation after another.  Richard and Brenda moved to Conway, AR in 2020 to be closer to his sisters after retiring from the hustle and bustle of Dallas, TX.

It’s impossible to sum up what a legendary unique individual Richard Porter is.  His life will always be cherished and his legacy lives on in the lives of his family and friends.  Richard was a hero in the end as organ donors save lives. Richard would do anything and everything to help others.  He was no saint, but his faith was immeasurable and unflappable.  He will be missed very much, and his family is eternally grateful to have been blessed to know him.  To know him is to love him, he must be one hell of a fan- cause Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re an Arkansas Razorbacks fan.

A family hosted celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 1pm at First United Methodist Church; 1610 Prince St., Conway, AR., with a reception to directly follow.  A second memorial service will be at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on 4000 Midway Rd., Carrollton, TX at 1pm on Saturday, December 6, 2025 with a true Porter sendoff to follow at The Londoner at 14930 Midway Rd, Addison, TX. GO HOGS GO and GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service & Crematory 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400. Online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com