Faye Yvonne Porter

Faye Yvonne Porter of Schoolcraft, MI, age 90, passed away on November 14, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Maryville, TN on April 18, 1930 the daughter of Robert and Sophie (Feezell) Thompson. __________________________________________________________________________ I entered Faye Yvonne Porter’s life in her 52nd year of life. I was lucky enough to have just over 37 years with her. While that 37 years is not half of her life, and hopefully not half of mine, the impact she made on me is monumental. Faye Yvonne Porter was born in Maryville, Tennessee on April 18, 1930. She was born after her mother and father, Sophie (Feezell) and Robert Thompson had suffered through several miscarriages. They had had a son, Marlon, Faye’s older brother, who did not last long in this world. When Faye was born, she also was not expected to live. However, this made Faye fight for her life. She lived! And she paved the way for her sister, Norma Jean, to be born 3 years later on April 15, 1933. Faye had some adventures as a child (oh the stories she could tell!). She prospered and went to Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee in 1949. There she met a charming man, Wayne Edward Porter. They fell in love and married just six months later on July 11, 1949. Wayne, or Porter as she called him, was a preacher. Faye fell into being the preacher’s wife and they displayed the humble love of Christ throughout their days leading the church. They lived in Tennessee for some time before moving to Columbus, Ohio and later to Dearborn, Michigan. They led Church of Christ congregations wherever they lived. They would open their doors to those in need whenever possible. They had their first daughter, Rebecca Anne Porter, on July 11, 1957. Their second daughter, Sheryl Ruth Porter, was born on May 5, 1959. Her first grandchild, Jennifer Robin Metz, was born on January 10, 1983. Her second grandchild, Emily Sheryl Metz, was born on June 12, 1985. Emily died a very short time later on October 3, 1985. Faye’s third grandchild, Brian Porter Metz, was born on July 14, 1986. She also became gramma to two pit bulls, Bleu and Tank, exact birthdates unknown. Her first great-grandchild, Ammi Sinda Metz, was born on December 24, 2019. Faye had various jobs throughout her life. Faye also had various health concerns throughout her life. She often would compare herself to a bumble bee because “bees shouldn’t be able to fly, they’re too round, and [she] shouldn’t be alive.” Throughout all of the odd jobs and odd health hiccups, she never lost her strength, humor, or stubbornness. She taught us all so much, through her love, her stories, her attention to detail, her strong memory, and her extremely strong will. I hope to hear more of the stories from the years before me as time goes on from my family. She has changed me in more ways than I have ability to write about. She is now at rest with her family and friends that went before her - her parents and other extended family and friends, her brother, Marlon, her husband, Wayne, her granddaughter, Emily, her dear friends Don and Mary Louise Spurgeon, and all those she knew and helped through being a preacher’s wife. While the world feels a bit less sassy and colorful without her in it, I know that we all carry her along in our hearts and minds and the world is a better place because of Faye Yvonne Porter, may she rest in peace. Whenever you see a bee, know that Faye is watching out for you or possibly making a Faye funny. Thank you for being so important to so many people. Love you oodles and pecks, Jenny __________________________________________________________________________ Grandma, You have been taken from us. I am not sure how I feel about it. Yes, I am sad. Sad about the times you will miss, and the times I will miss with you. You are an incredible woman, with so much fight and stubbornness. While I am sad, I am also happy. You have suffered so much in this life, and now it is time for you to rest. I don’t know what awaits any of us when we die, but I strongly believe that we will sleep until the Lord comes. “My life will end in deathless sleep” as the song goes. Yet, these words seem hollow and not very comforting at the moment. Even so, I will trust in the Lord, as you have taught me to do. They say that dreams are influenced by our days and the events that transpire within them. Right now, my dreams are of you. I dream of going to garage sales and flea markets with you. You always saw the value in things that others missed. I remember when you brought home a broken fishing net for my dad, convinced he could fix it. I dream of going to see the Goodyear blimp together. I dream of all the rootbeer floats we made together. I dream of spending weekends at your house again. These dreams are like shadows now; the light behind them missing. Yet, I still remember. I remember you, and above all else, I want you to know you will be remembered. Know this, and rest in it: I will always remember you as you were, the loving grandma who took care of me, who fed my lego obsession, who made this life a better one simply by existing. I choose to remember you, not just today, but for the rest of my life. Not just I, but you will be remembered by your daughters, Becky and Sheryl; by your granddaughters, Jennifer, Lori, and Laura; by your great-granddaughter, Ammi; by your dogs Bleu and Tank; and by everyone else who was privileged to know you. Goodbye Grandma. May you rest in peace. Brian