Horace Dexter Porter Jr.

Posted on April 29, 2022

Horace Dexter Porter Jr., 87, of Dowling Park went peacefully to be with the Lord on Friday, March 25, 2022. He is survived by his wife, Martha AinsworthPorter of Dowling Park, and his son, Michael F. Porter of Tallahassee. He was preceded in death by: his father, Horace Dexter Porter Sr.; his mother, Dixie Jones Porter; his grandmother, Lillian Pearson Jones; his brother, Richard Jones Porter; and his previous wife, Wyoline Harrell Porter. Dexter was born in Thomasville, Ga., and was raised in Perry where he graduated from Taylor County High in 1953. He then attended Florida State University, graduating in 1957 – a fact that surprised some people who knew what a passionate Gator fan he was! Dexter retired from Talquin Electric Cooperative in 2000 after working there since 1973. Before that he worked at what was then OlinMathieson (now St. Marks Powder) in Wakulla County. As a younger man he worked at Western Electric under NASA contracts where he was assigned variously to Brazil, the Ascension Island and South Africa before coming home to the United States and working at the Space Coast in Florida for a few years before moving his family to Tallahassee in 1968. In the Marine Corps, Dexter trained younger Marines in marksmanship. While working later for Western Electric, he was able to exercise his love for big game hunting while in South Africa. While living on Ascension Island, he and his co-workers had a pet donkey! Dexter loved dogs and had several memorable ones over the years. Among them was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Jock from “Jock of the Bushveld,” an early 20th century novel he discovered while living in South Africa. There was also another bull terrier, Gypsy; an Irish Terrier Corky; a chihuahua, Pequita; and Zack, a beloved Jack Russell terrier. One pet survives him, Beauty Girl, a soft-coated Wheaton Terrier. Beauty was a constant companion to Dexter at the end of his life and continues to bring comfort and love to Martha. At his request, no services will be held. The Neptune Society (Tallahassee office) is in charge of arrangements.