Daily Sitka Sentinel

Jim Porter Dies at 76; Was Longtime Sitkan

James Gregory “Jim” Porter

James Gregory “Jim” Porter was born to Arthur and Vera Porter on June 11, 1946, in Chico, California, and passed away at the age of 76 on July 20, 2022, in his longtime home – Sitka, Alaska.

An unexpected battle with lung cancer took Jim, but his family takes solace in the fact that in his final moments, he had both of his children by his side.

Jim joined the U.S. Navy soon after high school and served in the Vietnam War. Both his father and grandfather had served in the military as well – Jim carried this honorable tradition forward. 

Jim came to Sitka from Juneau in 1983, and immediately felt a connection to Sitka and the people here. He and a brother, John, started their own business here, J and J Repair. After John’s death 19 years ago, Jim stayed in the heating business and continued his work to the very end.

Jim loved to build things, fix things, hunt, fish, play darts, take road trips and hang out with his buddies at the local Moose Lodge.

Most of all Jim loved to help people, If he could be there for someone, he always was. He was a kind, hardworking and generous soul, whose absence will weigh on many.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters.  

He is loved, missed, and survived by his two daughters, Jamie Porter of Auburn, Washington, and Brenda English, son-in-law Trenton and grandsons Khalil, Christian, Cassious and Trenton James Jr., all of Juneau.

He also is survived by his big brother Dennis Bell and sister-in-law Barbara, of Juneau; his aunt Mary Smith of Juneau and aunt Donna and uncle Jim Kinder of Washington; nieces and nephews, including Elaine Bell of Juneau and Steven Bell of Sitka; and his best friends in Sitka – Mike, Tim, Conner and Bruce.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at the Moose Lodge, on Saturday, August 27, with the time to be announced soon.