Glenn Ray Porter

Glenn Ray Porter, 93, a former longtime resident of Columbia, Tennessee, passed from this life on Sunday, January 14, 2018 surrounded by his family at his home in Nashville, Tennessee. A Memorial Service will be conducted Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church preceded by a visitation in the church rotunda at 2:00 p.m. The family will host a Memorial Celebration for friends following the service between 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm upstairs at Southern Tre' Steakhouse located at 117 W. 7th Street. Ray will be laid to rest in Polk Memorial Gardens in a private family ceremony preceding the Memorial Service. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with arrangements.In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 801 South High Street, Columbia, TN 38401 or Alive Hospice, 1713 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Ray, born in Nashville, Tennessee, was the son of the late Thomas Glenn Porter and the late Annie Mae Fehrman Porter. After his mother's death in 1928, his father married Ray's step-mother, the late Sarah McMillan Porter, of Nashville. Ray and his family moved to Columbia in 1930 where he attended McDowell Elementary and Central High School, graduating in 1942. This was followed by service in the Army Air Corp. In 1946, Ray met the late Peggy Adwell of Columbia, whom he married in 1948. Ray and Peggy raised their three children in Columbia and remained there until 2007 when they moved to Nashville to be closer to family. Ray was an owner of Porter Shell Service Station on the Nashville Highway which opened in 1952 until in the 1960's when he acquired the Esso (Exxon) Oil Distributorship for Maury County. In the mid-1970's, Ray established Century 21 Real Estate Agency during which time he was chosen "Realtor of the Year". Prior to his retirement, he completed his career as a Real Estate Appraiser for Maury County. As an active member of First Presbyterian Church, Ray served as a deacon and elder, as well as a beloved Sunday School teacher. He was an enthusiastic little league baseball coach and between 1956 and 2005. Ray was a member of the Lions Club, Kiwanis Club and Rotary Club. Ray is survived by his children Edgar Porter (Ran Ying) of Oahu, Hawaii, Tom Porter (Deb) of Malibu, CA and Patricia (Al) Thomas of Nashville, TN. He was blessed with six grandchildren, Michael Ray Porter of New York, NY, Patrick Thomas Porter of Kauai, HI, Ron Adwell Porter of Honolulu, HI, Trevor Ray Porter (Nicolette) of Auburn, CA, Mary Allison Thomas of Josephine, AL, and Peggy Cates Thomas of Lexington, KY. Ray was also especially thankful for his great-grandchildren Eddie, Jetton, Beau, Piper and his newest namesake, Everett Ray, who is expected to be born April, 2018. He is also survived by his brother Charles (Margo) Porter of Ft. Myers, Florida.In addition to his parents and wife, Ray was preceded in death by three brothers, Grant Porter, Guy Porter and Dudley Porter.The family expresses a special thanks to Marva and Charlie Kinnard for their years of friendship and support along with Dorene DuCharme for her care over the last year.