Kelly Erin Lewis-Walls Porter

Kelly Erin Lewis-Walls Porter died Friday, July 22 after a long illness, surrounded by her family. Kelly was born November 29, 1983, to Claire E. Lewis and Garriel (“Garry”) R. Walls, though her love of big band music and classic movies could have placed her in a different era. If there are pianos in heaven—and surely there are—she’s already charmed an audience or two with a spontaneous performance. A gifted entertainer, Kelly grew up studying music and dance, repeatedly winning first place in vocal duets and placing in piano at CYO and other competitions. She studied dance with the Jordan Academy of Dance at Butler University, danced in the Nutcracker with the Ballet Internationale of Indianapolis and never missed an opportunity to perform, even if informally on a beach in Sarasota. Kelly attended St. Richard’s School and St. Monica’s in Indianapolis and graduated in the top twenty of her class at Plainfield High School in 2002. Kelly loved getting to know people, not just personally in the moment but also in the context of history and culture. That drive led to her B.A. in religious studies with a focus on Native American cultures from Butler University in 2006. She often said that her Southwest field study of the cultures of the Hopi, Navajo, and Havasupai tribes changed her life. She went on to work toward a Master’s Degree in museum studies from IUPUI, which in turn led to her attending the Robert H. McKinney School of Law at Indianapolis. It was at McKinney where she met the love of her life and her soulmate, Jordan Patrick Porter, whom she married in 2016. She enjoyed teaming up with her mom to defeat her husband and her dad in a rousing game of Catchphrase, a feat she repeated often, even within a few weeks of her passing. Kelly is survived by her parents, husband, brother Nicholas G. Lewis-Walls (Melanie), a nephew, Garrett, and niece, Delaney, whom she loved dearly, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is preceded in death by grandparents Thomas P. and Eleanor M. Lewis and Garriel E. and Ivis B. Walls, as well as two aunts, an uncle, and a cousin. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, July 30, at 3 pm at Flanner Buchanan Floral Park with visitation from 1 pm to 3 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Kelly’s honor to either of her two favorite causes: the Hopi Fund, ℅ The Hopi Foundation, P.O. Box 301, Kykotsmovi Village, AZ 86039 or to the Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection, 24130 Shooting Star Drive, Golden, CO 80401.