Kenneth J. Porter, Jr.

Kenneth J. “Kenny” Porter, Jr., 66, of Chetopa, passed away at 2:44 p.m., Friday, January 23, 2026, at St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa.

Kenneth Jackson Porter, Jr. was born on May 7, 1959, to Kenneth Jackson and Anna Marie (Griffith) Porter, Sr. in Augusta, Kansas. As a young boy, he moved with his family to Welch, Oklahoma, where he grew up and attended school. After graduating from high school, he helped run the family sawmill.

In 1984, he started working in the coal mines, where he worked until they closed. For the next few years, Kenny was self-employed cutting logs. He began working for Jorgenson Equipment in 1992 and continued working there when the company sold to Eubanks Equipment. His slow retirement started in 2021 for the next four years, when he finally did officially stop working. Service to his customers was his passion, living by the motto, “the customer comes first.” A naturally talented mechanic, who was well-known in the farm equipment industry, Kenny loved his customers and they loved him.

He also loved his family dearly, spending time with his grandchildren whenever he could. Besides watching his grandchildren play ball, he enjoyed cutting wood, growing gardens, and fishing and hunting with his buddies. Kenny touched many lives and will be greatly missed.

In 1979, Kenny and Cindy Lou Ahrens were united in marriage. The couple resided in Welch, until 2013 when they moved to Chetopa, where they have lived since. Cindy survives of the home.

Other survivors include:

Four children – Nicholas Porter of Hutchinson, Kansas

Andrew Porter (Ashley) of Chetopa, Kansas

Marcus Porter of Chetopa, Kansas

Leah Porter (Keith Haney) of Hutchinson, Kansas

Eight grandchildren – Macee and Lily Porter of Bartlett, Kansas; Adrian, Alexander, and Adonis Porter of Chetopa, Kansas; Bella and Lucia Phillips and Amelia Haney of Hutchinson, Kansas

His mother – Anna Marie Porter of Wyandotte, Oklahoma

Two sisters – Charisse Shaffer (Larry) of Bernice, Oklahoma;

Terri Wyrick (Gary) of Wyandotte, Oklahoma

One brother – Kevin Porter of Sheldon, Missouri

Numerous nieces and nephews

He was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth J. Porter, Sr.; and one sister, Gerri Drake.

The Memorial Service will be at 11:00 a.m., February 13, 2026 at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.  The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until the service begins.