FAYETTEVILLE — Nell Porter was born 95 years ago during a tornado that destroyed most of her neighborhood in Paducah, Texas.
“Her grandfather knelt at the foot of her bed and prayed that God would protect the mother and her baby,” said Porter’s daughter-in-law, Barbara Porter. “God did protect them. Every house on the entire block was wiped out except for theirs.”
On Tuesday, Nell Porter became the fourth person to die from injuries suffered in Friday’s tornado that destroyed parts of Cincinnati in western Washington County.
Gerald Dean “Buck” Wilson, 88, his wife, Mamie Wilson, 78, and their neighbor, James Richard “Dick” Murray, 78, were among the other Washington County residents who died during the tornado, which began just northeast of Westville, Okla., about 6:05 a.m. Friday and tracked across the Arkansas line. The twister stayed on the ground for 21 miles, ending three miles northwest of Tontitown about 6:27 a.m.
Porter, who lived at 20601 Charlie Thurman Road in Summers, died at Washington Regional Medical Center on Tuesday.
The Washington County Coroner’s Office listed her cause of death as “probable myocardial infraction/multisystem trauma.”
Barbara Porter said her mother-in-law suffered a broken leg, hip and sternum. She also broke two bones in her neck.
Gina Maddox, a spokeswoman for Washington Regional Medical Center, said four people were initially taken to the hospital and treated for tornado-related injuries. Two patients were still in the hospital as of Tuesday afternoon and listed in “good condition.”
Barbara Porter said she’ll never forget finding her 95-year-old mother-in-law in the road after the Friday morning twister.
“We heard the wind and the rain, but we didn’t know for sure that there was a tornado,” she said. “It was completely dark and we thought she might be afraid so we went to check on her. When we got there, her house was gone.”
Barbara Porter and husband Randy Porter live in a home in the pasture behind Nell Porter’s home. Their daughter, who lives next door to Nell Porter with her three children, was visiting family in Arizona when the storm struck Friday morning.
“The tornado hit both of their homes and wiped them completely out,” Barbara Porter said. “Thank God our daughter wasn’t home, or they would have died, too.”
Neighbors found Nell Porter lying atop a pile of debris in the middle of the road. She was conscious, but couldn’t move.
“It was pitiful,” Barbara Porter said. “She was lying in the rain and we were trying to keep her covered because it was so cold. The ambulance couldn’t get to her for two hours because of all the trees in the road. A neighbor cut debris out of the way and cut his own fence so the ambulance could get through.”
Despite the hardship of losing a beloved family member, Barbara Porter said and she and her family find comfort in knowing that she’s no longer in pain.
“We didn’t expect to lose her this way, but we praise God for her life,” she said. “She’s in a much better place now.”
Sharon Davis, who’s lived in Cincinnati for nearly 30 years, said she and her husband have been family friends with the Porters for several years.
“They are wonderful people,” she said. “They’re good Christian people, very strong people. They’re survivors, but I do hurt for them."
Nell Porter was born April 16, 1915. She and her late husband raised their three children in Phoenix. Her husband worked for the water department, while she worked in a dress shop. The couple was married for 59 years, until her husband’s death nearly 18 years ago.
Barbara Porter said her mother-in-law moved to Northwest Arkansas six years ago to be near her family.
“Her desire was to never go to a rest home ,so we’re proud that we were able to assist her,” she said.
Nell Porter enjoyed yard work and cooking. She also valued time spent with her eight grandchildren, as well as numerous great-grandchildren.
“She had one of those vivacious personalities that everyone loved,” Barbara Porter said. “She was a very strong, healthy person. She was the stronghold of the family and had a lot of faith. There’s no question about where she is right now.”