John Porter

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

John Willard “Rock” Porter, 79, of Joplin, Missouri, passed away on July 15, 2026, one day after his 79th birthday.

John was born on July 14, 1947, in Miami, Oklahoma, to Willard Porter and Ruby Clingenpeel Porter. He attended Baxter Springs High School with the Class of 1965, where he earned varsity letters in track and field as a high jumper.

On May 28, 1966, he married the love of his life, Naoma McCracken. Together they shared 60 years of marriage and raised twin sons, Jason and Jered.

John was a lifelong entrepreneur, builder, and real estate developer. At age 22, he founded a house-framing business and soon established Porter & Sons Building, Inc., through which he built hundreds of custom and speculative homes throughout the Liberty and Kearney, Missouri, areas, as well as in Grove, Oklahoma. He later worked alongside his wife and sons in the family’s hospitality companies, developing, building, owning, and operating more than a dozen motels, including Super 8, Days Inn, and Booneslick Lodge properties. The family also developed shopping centers, restaurants, and convenience stores over the years.

John enjoyed coaching his sons’ youth basketball teams, had a lifelong affection for pugs, and will be remembered for his entrepreneurial vision, creativity, quiet determination, deep devotion to his family, and unwavering Christian faith. He was a faithful member of the Joplin East Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard Porter and Ruby Clingenpeel, and his sister, Bonnie Goff.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Naoma Porter, of the home; sons Jason Porter of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, and Jered Porter of Excelsior Springs, Missouri; granddaughter Kammi Thorne (Michael) of Buckeye, Arizona; grandson Korby Porter and his fiancée, Josie Smith, of Kirkwood, Missouri; sisters Lisa Goff of Anderson, Missouri, and Lori Porter (Lisa Sweet) of Carl Junction, Missouri; sister-in-law Harriet Davis of Excelsior Springs, Missouri; brother-in-law Sonny Goff of Stella, Missouri; and several nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Memorial services are pending. Interment of his cremated remains will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Galena, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Joplin Humane Society in John’s memory.