In Memory Of
Roger Kim Porter
1954
2023
Roger Kim Porter
May 22, 1954 — December 31, 2023
Beloved dad, brother, partner, friend and ski instructor Kim Porter was cruising a blue run on Vail Mountain before work on Thursday, Dec. 28 when he suffered a sudden acute health event that led to his death on Dec. 31.
He is survived by his partner and best friend, Julie Winters, Montrose, Colorado; daughter Kaylee Porter and son in-law, Tyler Hopkins, Fort Collins, Colorado; daughter Michelle Porter and partner, Colin Moon, Lincoln, Nebraska; brother Dean Porter, Brighton, Colorado; brother Jeff Porter and partner Kari Wyman, Grand Junction, Colorado; and former wife, Susan Augustine, Laramie, Wyoming. His parents, Bill and Diane Porter, Riverton, Wyoming, preceded him in death.
He was born Roger Kim Porter on May 22, 1954, in Great Bend, Kansas, and grew up in Riverton, Wyoming, where he found his lifelong calling for ingenuity, fun and strategically skirting rules. As a kid he had an impressive firework collection and discovered attaching a tube to the handlebars of his bike created an ideal weapon for shooting bottle rockets at his brothers and friends. His many exploits remain in Riverton lore.
Kim moved to Laramie, Wyoming 1974 to attend the University of Wyoming. It was there that he met Susan Augustine, who he married in 1985. Together they raised two daughters. As a dad he was fun and spontaneous (and made the best pancakes around). His daughters remember him not only carefully painting nails and fixing hair when they were little but also teaching them about all his favorite outdoors pursuits and coming home randomly with new skis and, on one occasion, a dirt bike.
His endless energy and passion for skiing helped countless people sharpen their skills — everyone from clients to friends and family, to struggling strangers. He was a PSIA member for 39 years and was in one of the first groups to become certified in snowboarding in 1989. He taught at Snowy Range, outside of Laramie, Wyoming, for decades before starting at Vail in 2004. His infectious smile, forceful friendliness and sharp wit made the Lionshead locker room a livelier place, and those who love him will think of him often on Kangaroo Cornice, Champagne Glades and his favorite powder stashes (which will remain unnamed for obvious reasons).
Kim was always happy to share his vast knowledge, from skiing to building houses and countless subjects in between. He had a B.S. in Geology and a B.A. in Science Education, was OSHA certified, had a CDL, was a certified CPR and first-aid instructor, and worked as an EMT briefly. He was on Ski Patrol at Snowy Range for several years before discovering his love of teaching. He raced in the Motorcycle Roadracing Association from 1983-86, including three six- hour races in Aspen. Kim continued to ride road and dirt bikes for fun throughout his life — he had just purchased and was fixing up a Harley Davidson. He worked at Western Mobile/LaFarge in Laramie from 1982-1998. He also spent several summers as a fly-fishing guide for Gorsuch in Vail and loved to tell the story of the time he took Troy Aikman out on the river.
He was head coach of the Laramie Senior High School ski team for many years and led the girls team to several state championships in the '90s. He was also a longtime Talon Crew volunteer and especially loved working at the start gate, where he could hobnob with racers. He proudly sported his Birds of Prey jacket signed by Bode Miller and Ted Ligety. He was also a volunteer usher at the Vilar Performing Arts Center and enjoyed many concerts.
Creative and handy, Kim leaves behind many masterpieces to remember him by, including pottery, sculptures, expertly poured and finished cement, tile mosaics and much more. He designed and constructed two houses in Laramie, Wyoming, and restored many, many more including his former home in Hot Spring, Arkansas, and his current home in Montrose. Home renovations usually included ornate backyard fountains that brought Kim endless joy.
He also had an impressive green thumb and especially loved hollyhocks, which he cultivated from seed every spring and planted in bulk at every home he lived in, as well as those of friends and family, and the occasional Laramie alley in need of beautification. When he was facilities manager of Startek, a call center in Laramie (1998-2010), he filled the 220,000-square-foot call center with hundreds of houseplants.
Animals loved him and gravitated to him because of his kind, laid-back vibe. During his college years, his ride-or-die was an elkhound mix named Braunstein who would come find him in class thanks to a building's automatic doors. Family dogs and cats always knew he was a safe bet for high-quality pets and perhaps a bite of whatever he was eating.
Kim was always up for a game, whether it was board, card or a silly pretend one he made up with his daughters. He loved a good puzzle and spent many hours working them with family. He'd learn any game and, more than anything, he cherished the time spent with loved ones.
He was a Fantasy Football fiend and moderated three leagues: two for friends and family that had been going for decades, and another he called the "Dog League" that was for practice and consisted of him running accounts on the behalf of six beloved dogs.
Kim was also an expert golfer who won many recreational tournaments and drive contests. In 2023, he realized a 20-year dream of installing a putting green in his yard. He often said the green and his hot tub made him feel "cozied in" to the home he shared in Montrose with his beloved partner Julie, who he met in Vail in 2019.
Kim and Julie visited virtually every state in their time together and enjoyed road and mountain biking, rafting, sailing, hikes and much more. He loved her and her dog, Whisper, deeply and enjoyed every minute of the life they built together.
There will be a celebration of life in Vail on Monday, Feb. 5. Visit the Vail Daily website for more information. All who knew and loved Kim are welcome and are encouraged to bring stories. Another celebration of life will be held in Laramie in May.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to our National Parks in Kim's memory. For more information, visit Give.NationalParks.org.
He is survived by his partner and best friend, Julie Winters, Montrose, Colorado; daughter Kaylee Porter and son in-law, Tyler Hopkins, Fort Collins, Colorado; daughter Michelle Porter and partner, Colin Moon, Lincoln, Nebraska; brother Dean Porter, Brighton, Colorado; brother Jeff Porter and partner Kari Wyman, Grand Junction, Colorado; and former wife, Susan Augustine, Laramie, Wyoming. His parents, Bill and Diane Porter, Riverton, Wyoming, preceded him in death.
He was born Roger Kim Porter on May 22, 1954, in Great Bend, Kansas, and grew up in Riverton, Wyoming, where he found his lifelong calling for ingenuity, fun and strategically skirting rules. As a kid he had an impressive firework collection and discovered attaching a tube to the handlebars of his bike created an ideal weapon for shooting bottle rockets at his brothers and friends. His many exploits remain in Riverton lore.
Kim moved to Laramie, Wyoming 1974 to attend the University of Wyoming. It was there that he met Susan Augustine, who he married in 1985. Together they raised two daughters. As a dad he was fun and spontaneous (and made the best pancakes around). His daughters remember him not only carefully painting nails and fixing hair when they were little but also teaching them about all his favorite outdoors pursuits and coming home randomly with new skis and, on one occasion, a dirt bike.
His endless energy and passion for skiing helped countless people sharpen their skills — everyone from clients to friends and family, to struggling strangers. He was a PSIA member for 39 years and was in one of the first groups to become certified in snowboarding in 1989. He taught at Snowy Range, outside of Laramie, Wyoming, for decades before starting at Vail in 2004. His infectious smile, forceful friendliness and sharp wit made the Lionshead locker room a livelier place, and those who love him will think of him often on Kangaroo Cornice, Champagne Glades and his favorite powder stashes (which will remain unnamed for obvious reasons).
Kim was always happy to share his vast knowledge, from skiing to building houses and countless subjects in between. He had a B.S. in Geology and a B.A. in Science Education, was OSHA certified, had a CDL, was a certified CPR and first-aid instructor, and worked as an EMT briefly. He was on Ski Patrol at Snowy Range for several years before discovering his love of teaching. He raced in the Motorcycle Roadracing Association from 1983-86, including three six- hour races in Aspen. Kim continued to ride road and dirt bikes for fun throughout his life — he had just purchased and was fixing up a Harley Davidson. He worked at Western Mobile/LaFarge in Laramie from 1982-1998. He also spent several summers as a fly-fishing guide for Gorsuch in Vail and loved to tell the story of the time he took Troy Aikman out on the river.
He was head coach of the Laramie Senior High School ski team for many years and led the girls team to several state championships in the '90s. He was also a longtime Talon Crew volunteer and especially loved working at the start gate, where he could hobnob with racers. He proudly sported his Birds of Prey jacket signed by Bode Miller and Ted Ligety. He was also a volunteer usher at the Vilar Performing Arts Center and enjoyed many concerts.
Creative and handy, Kim leaves behind many masterpieces to remember him by, including pottery, sculptures, expertly poured and finished cement, tile mosaics and much more. He designed and constructed two houses in Laramie, Wyoming, and restored many, many more including his former home in Hot Spring, Arkansas, and his current home in Montrose. Home renovations usually included ornate backyard fountains that brought Kim endless joy.
He also had an impressive green thumb and especially loved hollyhocks, which he cultivated from seed every spring and planted in bulk at every home he lived in, as well as those of friends and family, and the occasional Laramie alley in need of beautification. When he was facilities manager of Startek, a call center in Laramie (1998-2010), he filled the 220,000-square-foot call center with hundreds of houseplants.
Animals loved him and gravitated to him because of his kind, laid-back vibe. During his college years, his ride-or-die was an elkhound mix named Braunstein who would come find him in class thanks to a building's automatic doors. Family dogs and cats always knew he was a safe bet for high-quality pets and perhaps a bite of whatever he was eating.
Kim was always up for a game, whether it was board, card or a silly pretend one he made up with his daughters. He loved a good puzzle and spent many hours working them with family. He'd learn any game and, more than anything, he cherished the time spent with loved ones.
He was a Fantasy Football fiend and moderated three leagues: two for friends and family that had been going for decades, and another he called the "Dog League" that was for practice and consisted of him running accounts on the behalf of six beloved dogs.
Kim was also an expert golfer who won many recreational tournaments and drive contests. In 2023, he realized a 20-year dream of installing a putting green in his yard. He often said the green and his hot tub made him feel "cozied in" to the home he shared in Montrose with his beloved partner Julie, who he met in Vail in 2019.
Kim and Julie visited virtually every state in their time together and enjoyed road and mountain biking, rafting, sailing, hikes and much more. He loved her and her dog, Whisper, deeply and enjoyed every minute of the life they built together.
There will be a celebration of life in Vail on Monday, Feb. 5. Visit the Vail Daily website for more information. All who knew and loved Kim are welcome and are encouraged to bring stories. Another celebration of life will be held in Laramie in May.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to our National Parks in Kim's memory. For more information, visit Give.NationalParks.org.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Roger Kim Porter, please visit our flower store.
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