Helen Lanier Porter

Helen Lanier Porter, was born September 10, 1940, in Nashville, Tennessee, and died peacefully of natural causes on June 7, 2022, in her adopted home of Little Rock, Arkansas. She was a devoted wife and partner for 54 years to the love of her life, James T. Dyke, who preceded her in death just last October. She is also preceded in death by her parents, Robert A. and Alice Caldwell Porter, and her brother, James Porter. Helen Porter was a ferocious advocate for others. She loved her community and the state of Arkansas. She was passionate about supporting efforts to improve mental health, the plight of the homeless, women prisoners at Wrightsville, and just about anything she thought would improve the lives of other people. Most recently, she enjoyed spending time with relocated Afghan refugees. She was so proud of and celebrated her family: Merritt and Anne Dyke of Little Rock, Robert Finch of Santa Fe, James Dyke, Jr. and Dawn of Charleston, S.C., and Jonathan and Susan Dyke of Nashville. The grandchildren on whom she left a loving, strong and indelible mark are, Nicholas Dyke of Oxford, Miss., Emily Dyke of Denver, Colo., Lanie Dyke of Nashville, Trester Dyke of Charleston, Olivia Bynum of Dallas, Texas, Brooks Bynum of Austin, and Barrett Bynum of Ft. Worth. Helen is also survived by her brother, Robert A. Porter, III. Helen was a loving aunt who cherished her nieces and nephews, and she had a special place in her heart for her sisters-in-law, Emily Porter and Missy Porter. Helen attended Vanderbilt University and served as a board trustee for many years. She remained close to and traveled yearly with her first grade friend group. She was beloved by friends and the community everywhere she lived, from Palm Beach, Florida, to Northeast Harbor, Maine. She was a strong woman who was an inspiration to so many. Her passion, pride and support for the state of Arkansas was unparalleled, and her greatest wish was to keep the state a secret, lest everyone move here. She was a passionate gardener and believed in the healing powers of nature. She was a past president of the Little Rock Garden Club and a member of the Palm Beach Garden Club. She supported and took pleasure in walking labyrinths wherever they might be found. She took great pride and joy in building and working in her own garden and sharing the beauty of her flowers with others. There was no greater gift from Helen than a small vase of her flowers left at your door. Helen believed strongly in the value of the arts and education. She served as a trustee of St. George's School in Newport, R.I., where she focused on mental health issues in the early 1990's. She believed wholeheartedly in the mission of Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, Arkansas, as an admission-free American art museum that is open and available to all. She was a member and past president of the Little Rock Junior League. Helen backed up her commitment to mental health with unwavering support of the Psychiatric Research Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She and Jim did not initially plan to attach their names to the PRI building, but in realizing that doing so might help to de-stigmatize mental illness, they agreed. Helen was the catalyst for the establishment of the Brain Imaging Research Center at UAMS, and firmly believed that the brain is the true last frontier. Her memory will live on in the many people and philanthropic causes she supported, including The Arkansas House of Prayer, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Heifer International, Our House, PARK, Youth Home, the American Cathedral in Paris, the Interfaith Center of Arkansas, Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, and many others. Her courage, compassion and commitment will continue to inspire everyone she touched. The family will hold a visitation from 5-7 p.m., on Friday, June 10, 2022, at Ruebel Funeral Home. A celebration of life will begin at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral at 11 a.m., on Saturday, June 11, 2022, followed by a reception at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of: RuebelFuneralHome.com