Henry Potter Obituary (1923 - 2003)

Henry Johnson Potter 1923-2003 KENTS HILL ? Henry Johnson Potter, 80, of Kents Hill, joined loved ones who have passed on before him on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at Central Maine Medical Center, whose caring staff he had come to admire and appreciate since his first bout with cancer 22 years ago. Henry was born Aug. 12, 1923, in Mount Vernon, the eldest child of Woodford and L. Marie (Cole) Potter. In 1939, he and his family moved to Kents Hill, where he received his high school education. Henry Potter and Evelyn Adell were married on June 28, 1947. They raised their daughters in the home they lovingly built on Old Kents Hill Road, where family members have spent many happy times gathering for good food, laughter, love and sometimes tears. Prior to his retirement in 1988, Henry worked for the state Department of Transportation for 47 years. For the first several years, he worked on the state tar crew during the summers and was a snowplow operator during the winters. For the last 20 years, he proudly and adeptly operated a John Deere front-end loader for the department. Henry was a family man who unconditionally loved his home, wife, children and grandchildren. He offered a strong and silent presence in time of need to all who knew him. He enjoyed country music with a passion, and for the past 22 years also took pleasure in dancing. He and wife, Evelyn, attended many Weeks Mills Family Music Festivals, where they made new friends and traditions. Another of Henry's passions was his five-acre lawn, which he meticulously mowed ? the last time being a few short days before his death. His most-prized possessions were his John Deere lawn tractor and his 1977 Chevrolet pickup truck, which bears the license plate 'Prampy,' a name given him by his grandson, Jonathan. Henry was predeceased by his parents; brothers Donald and Howard Potter; sisters Phyllis Weston, Maybelle Cates and Trudy Brooks; daughter Rosemary Potter; son-in-law Thomas Clark and grandson Jonathan Clark. Survivors include Evelyn, his wife of 56 years; two daughters, Sandra Potter-Clark of Kents Hill and Dale Marie Clark and her life partner, Harvey Boatman, of Vassalboro; son-in-law Donald Clark of Kents Hill; four grandchildren, Matthew Clark of Mount Vernon, and Jeremy Clark, Julie Clark, Amanda Clark Linton of Kents Hill and her husband, David, and daughter Elise; brothers Lorin Potter and wife Midge of Kents Hill and Hubert Potter and wife Irene of Whitefield; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and very special friends. Henry was looking forward to the birth of his first great-grandchild, lovingly called 'Smudge,' in January 2004. Visiting hours will be 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop, where the funeral service will follow at 4 p.m. Burial will be at Kents Hill Cemetery immediately following the service. Memorial donations may be made to the Potter & Clark Memorial Fund, c/o Dale Marie Clark, 959 Cross Hill Road, Vassalboro 04989.