William Porter Obituary

El Capitan! He steered the mighty ship of his rig to far off lands of LA Bay and San Ignacio to cavort with whale fish in the gulf and grey whales on the pacific side.... All the whilst spinning tales of previous journeys.... He will be missed by all of us lucky voyagers! Big Wizard for sure!

Every time I remember yet another " Billism" I laugh out loud...one that came up yesterday was `febilizing´. As he tottered around on not so good days, he´d tell me he was febelizing....(not quite sure how to spell that one...) Thank you Bill for all your magnificent humor! You made me laugh every day I lived there.

Bill was a man of grace , humor, and honor. I treasure the time we spent together. When the kids were little and then later on. Your love for your family giving them such a strong foundation. I still have the fire place poker we forged. Your art will be here forever but more than that the love you gave and the music of your laughter.My prayers for Robbie , Thom and Kristen and the little ones for your great loss.

Hi Bill. I don´t think I ever thanked you properly for bailing me out of the snow when my truck batteries died, the many meditation get together, or your encouraging words as an artist. I always saw you as a pillar of Julian society and a giant among good men. I hope your adventures continue on ....

Ve con Dios, compadre!

My deepest condolences to all of Bill's loved ones. What a brilliant source of positive energy and kindness. We had a great time together building the running track and securing a container full of equipment. Shortly after completing the track, Bill and I sat in the stands and beamed as we watched world-class marathoners and olympians train. He said it was like the movie "Field of Dreams". We built it and they came. And then got to see nearly every JHS track record broken.

Rest in peace my friend.

I have so many good memories of Bill. He was incredibly generous with his time and advice, which made him both a great running coach and good friend. Thank you Bill, for making my high school years so much more impactful.

Bill invited Kathleen and I into his home to live in our time of need. We became part of his life, family, and friends. A warm and enriching experience that will stay with us always.

We loved Bill very much. He will always be part of our hearses. All our love Wes, Sally, Savannah and Sierra Laird (Melbourne, Australia)

For my Dear Friend, Bill:

When you find The Way
Others will find you
Passing by on the road
They will be drawn to
your door
The Way that cannot be heard
will be echoed in your voice
The Way that cannot be seen
will be reflected in your eyes

- Tao te Ching

Thank you for the gate. Thank you for being there. We shall meet again.

I can hear his ready laugh punctuating the air. He built a world that took people
in. A welcoming presence like a warm fire place, see how he burns on!

His ready laugh still punctuates the night. A warm fireplace of a man, welcoming so many he made part of him. Gratitude forever.

My memory reaches back to some very happy Julian nights filled with square dancing and laughter on the patio. Bill was always so friendly and welcoming. His love lives on! So sorry to hear of his passing.

Thanks for everything, Bill, you´ve been an inspiration and a good friend to me and Especially Haywire. Our band probably wouldn´t have existed without you, a patron, a true friend and a true fan of our music. Thank you for your unfailing positivity and can do attitude! Oh, and sorry for that little accident with your fence that time a few years back!

I´m grateful for the opportunity to have known you. You will be fondly remembered.

Bill and I shared several adventures on "the Baja". One of my favorites was when we attempted to haul all our gear to a beautiful uninhabited island south of Loreto only to be chased off the island by swarms of aggressive bees. Bill has a piece of my heart. His contributions to a better world are numerous. I will miss this honorable man.

Bill was a presence while I was in school in Julian. His kindness knew no bounds. Rest easy, friend.

Thom and Kristin, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. So many great memories of going to your house as a kid. Your dad was a very special man. You all will be in my prayers.

Treasured Art Friend in my heart always...rest well kind soul

He was such a fine gentleman! Always thinking of others and a pleasure to be around. Hoping that your memories serve as a warm blanket of comfort during this time.

I will always remember Bill is the First Blacksmith of Hubbell Hill following Jim of course.

In 1982 l moved to California to work with James Hubbell. Bill Porter worked there as blacksmith. We became close friends. Bill was truly one of the best persons I´ve known. He was kind, caring, and fully alive. He built a beautiful home in Julian which became a gathering place for many friends and family. A great humanbeing cherished by many.

Bill my friend lived literally in the world of art....as my Guru Dada he taught through humor and was an open channel to the creative light

Thank you for sharing your extraordinary artistry and boundless friendship