Jimmy Lee Porter, 76, of Beechgrove, Tennessee passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Preceding him in death were his parents, JB and Mary Barlow Porter; brothers, Billy Porter, Jerry Wayne Porter, John Porter, James Barlow, and Frankie Porter; sisters, Shirley Tittle and Peggy Markum; fur baby, Shadow; and several friends.
He is survived by his children, Lisa Watson of Woodbury and Gregory Jason Porter; close companion, Faye Lefevers; grandchildren, Ashley Nicole Allen, Gregory Austin Smith, Dalton (Jamie) Lee Porter, Jackson Dale Porter, Sawyer Wayne Porter, Brooklyn Charlize Porter, Savannah Analyssa Porter, and Jaylynn Rose Porter; great grandchildren, Storey Paige Rumsey, Aria Gayle Rumsey, Gregory Bryson Carlton, Grayson Bradley Michael Foreman, Aubree Celste Crawford, Harley Davidson, Jaylee Carpenter, and Cora J. Porter; sisters, Judy Bogle of Woodbury, Janie Narramore of Murfreesboro, and Mary Frances Chalner of Alabama; fur babies, Wolf, Chip, Rascal, and Missy; and many friends.
Jimmy was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on Saturday, November 19, 1949. Those were simpler times then, where the outdoors brought peace, work brought satisfaction, and faith bound everything together. An enthusiast of coon hunting and frog gigging from a young age, it was only fitting that, as a young boy, Jimmy was baptized in the pond. He went on to work with integrity and strength.
Though the U.S. went through a post-war economic boom, many children still didn’t get the privilege to complete school. Jimmy was one of those children, but his mind was as sharp as a tack. Most of his professional career was spent working at Better Bilt Aluminum (now MI Metals) in the casting department, and he proudly displayed his arms with the marks of his work. His time at MI Metals was springboarded by his work at Alcan, working in aluminum manufacturing.
Outside of the factory, Jimmy had a knack for working with wood instead of metal. You would often find Jimmy fixing things or working on construction projects. He even ran a remodeling business for about a year before going back to just doing it on the side. Wanting to instill the same work ethic in his children, Jimmy decided they needed jobs straight out of high school. It was a “Welcome to the Real World” that he hoped would be a cherished gift once they got older and got more experience on just how the “real world” worked.
In his later years, Jimmy went back on the “hunt,” but instead of coons, he sniffed out every yard sale and flea market. Not to mention, his eagle eye had him turning around, pulling over, and stopping at all the treasures he found on the side of the road. He could spot things across the highway, and you could count on it that he’d be stopping. That interest spanned over into his downtime too. There were countless times when Storage Wars played in the background during his phone calls, and if it wasn’t that, it was westerns.
A simple, down to earth, country boy, Jimmy stayed true to his roots. John Wayne and Clint Eastwood were some of his favorite cowboys to watch, and country music flowed from his radio. The most modern Jimmy’s taste got was Brooks and Dunn. Otherwise, he kept it old school with Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, George Jones, and the other greats of country music.
Yet, the TV and radio were far from Jimmy’s only companions. He managed to make friends wherever he went with his congenial personality, and that sentiment extended to animals as well. Most people are lucky to have one or two close, faithful friends, so it says a lot that Jimmy managed to rack up an overflowing handful. It’s almost certain you’d miss some if you tried to name them all, but Faye held a special place in his heart with over 20 years of shared struggles, care, and companionship.
Jimmy is at rest now from all his toil and trouble, and while that gives some peace of mind, the family’s hearts are still broken to have lost such a fierce protector and provider. The example he set and the work ethic he shared will stick in their memories for lifetimes to come.
Visitation was held at Gentry-Smith Funeral Home on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 2-5 pm. Funeral services were held Sunday, June 21, 2026, at 2 pm in the Gentry-Smith Funeral Home chapel. Diane Crook officiated. Interment was at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery.
