William Michael Porter was born June 18, 1950, in Lamar, Colorado. Mike was the third child of Curtis and Mabel Porter. He attended elementary and secondary school in Vilas, Colorado, and then took a short time off before enrolling at Colorado State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Mike then entered law school at Tacoma, Washington, graduating with his Juris Doctor in 1980.

After passing the bar exam, Mike went into the private practice of law in Springfield.

During his time in private practice, Mike, off and on, worked for different District Attorneys, serving as a Deputy District Attorney. He was then appointed by the Governor to serve as the Baca County Judge. At the time of his passing he was again in practice as a private attorney.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Curtis and Mabel Porter; his sister, Gayla Dawn Porter; and his brother, Pat Porter.

Mike is survived and will be truly missed by his special friend and companion, Leanna Turner, of the family home in Springfield, Colorado; his sister, Bonnie (Don) Thompson, of Santa Rosa, New Mexico; his brother, Larry (Stella) Porter, of Springfield, Colorado, nieces Teresa (Bo) Cribbs, of Santa Rosa, New Mexico; Jana (Wade) Frost of Logan, New Mexico; Julie (Ernest) Sanchez, of Santa Rosa, New Mexico, and Prina (Dan) Fitzgerald, of Pueblo, Colorado; nephews Ace (Estela) Thompson, of Santa Rosa, New Mexico; Lane Porter, of Lamar, Colorado; and Kade Porter, of Trinidad, Colorado; and his many friends.