Della May Porter

Della May Hill Porter, 92, passed away peacefully on February 14, Valentine’s Day, 2026, at NKC Hospice House in NKC, MO. Della was born on November 27, 1933, to the late Russell Hill, Sr., and Minnie Searcy Hill. She grew up with eight siblings near Beverly and Weston MO and graduated from West Platte High School in 1951. Della married Donald Lee Porter on November 10, 1950, and the couple celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in November, 2025. The couple resided in Farley MO for the last 16 years after moving numerous times due to Donald’s military career in the Air Force, with duty stations in Illinois, Kansas, Germany, Texas, Maryland, New Mexico, New Jersey, and Alaska.

Della was a poet, painter, dancer, singer, quilter, seamstress, doll maker, child caregiver, telephone operator, civil servant, restauranteur, supervisor and business manager amongst other professions. She was also a generous volunteer, sewing and donating quilts for hospice and children’s camps through City Union Mission and other charities. But, above all, Della was a woman of faith who loved like Jesus and lived her faith every single day. She was a blessing to her family, and to all those lucky enough to have known her. She lifted us up every day, and now she rests in the arms of her Savior, whole and joyful.

Della was the epitome of the faithful military spouse. She followed her airman from base to base, and returned home only once with their first child when Donald went on an unaccompanied tour to Korea. Despite the challenges of frequent military moves, she made a home from each set of quarters whether on base or in off base rentals that included everything from a boarding house, mobile home, and even a converted church. Wherever she was, it was home. With each move came a different new job and learning a variety of skills to help support their family. To help overcome the stresses of military family life, Della ensured her children had positive experiences at each duty station through activities like sports, scouts, dance classes, music lessons, site seeing and travel.

Della never met a stranger, only potential friends. She found the good in everyone she met and she was profoundly kind, generous, and quick to lend a helping hand. She was a baby whisperer and one of those grandmothers/great-grandmothers who did not care how much of a mess was made when the grandkids visited. She listened to them, cooked with them, played with dolls and Legos, read books, played games and rocked babies. She sewed doll clothes, quilts, princess dresses, and school clothes. She knew every child’s personality and loved every single one of them unconditionally.

Della is survived by her husband, Donald, of Farley, MO, her daughters, Cherri (Roger) Verschraegen, Farley, MO; Beverly (Dan) Ahern, Lansing, KS; and sons, Scott (Lori) Porter, Belton, MO; and Chad (Lori) Porter, St Joseph, MO; 3 sisters-in-law, Judy Hill, Pat Jenkins, and Wilma Hill; 10 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren and a multitude of cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Russell and Minnie Hill; her eight siblings, Elwood, Mary Jesse, Dorothy, Robert, Russell Jr, Raymond, Nida, and Clyde; and her great-grandson Chase Archambault.

A Celebration of Life for Della will be at the Red Barn Farm on April 4, 2026. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 3:00 PM with the service following at 3:00 PM. Interment will be at the Ft Leavenworth National Cemetery at a future date.

Memorials can be sent to the Hillsboro Christian Church Building Fund, PO Box 2568, Platte City MO 64079 or the NKC Hospice House, 9001 State Line Rd, Ste 300, Kansas City MO 64114.