Sharon Dunlap Porter

Sharon Dunlap Porter, 80, of Jonesboro, passed away peacefully at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House on Friday, June 3, 2022.  She was born in Wyandotte, Michigan, on January 15, 1942, to the late Pete and Georgia Dunlap.

Sharon grew up in Jonesboro and attended Jonesboro schools.  After graduating from Jonesboro High School with the class of 1959, she continued her education at ASU earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education and counseling.  She was a member of the Southwest Church of Christ.

Her teaching career began in Helena, Arkansas where she taught business education at Helena High School.  It was here she met her husband of 48 years, the late Wallace Porter, who was coaching at Helena High School at the time.  They were married in Helena on March 11, 1966.  They coached and taught in several cities in their early years including Helena, Brinkley, and Searcy.

In the `970’s the Porters moved back to her home town in Jonesboro where they raised their two children, Susan and John.  Mrs. Porter then began her career as a guidance counselor at Jonesboro High School and he continued coaching at Greene County Tech.

It was during these days the Porters became interested in horticulture.  They began their next venture and opened Porter’s Nursery on Southwest Drive.  One of Sharon’s greatest joys was working in the nursery.  She loved the plants and flowers and spending time with all the customers and people who visited there.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and a daughter, Susan Porter Overton, and a granddaughter, Georgia Porter Overton.

Mrs. Porter is survived by her son, John W. Porter of Memphis; grandson, William Swepston Overton V, Santa Rosa, Florida; and a sister Gail Dunlap Sowell and brother-in-law, Wayne of Jonesboro; a special niece and nephew, Leigh Ann Morrison, of West Plains, Missouri; and Jimmy Joe Turner of Los Angeles; uncle, Jerry West and wife Anita of Jonesboro.  She also leaves many other friends and relatives and a host of longtime colleagues.

Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M., Thursday, June 9, 2022, at Emerson Memorial Chapel with Jimmy Adcox officiating and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Burial will be private with Marty Bennett, Wayne Sowell, Will Overton, Bill Butler, Jim Devasier and Jim Ellis serving as pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearers are retired teachers from Jonesboro schools. Visitation will be from 12:30 until service time on Thursday.

The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff of the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House for their loving care and attention.  For lasting memorials, please consider the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House, 1148 E. Matthews, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401.  Online condolences may be shared and a video tribute may be view at emersonfuneralhome.com.  Those wishing to send condolence cards to the family may send them to 204 Dunwoody Drive, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72404.