Patricia Jane “Patsy” Potter
A mighty oak has fallen on Potter Branch in Reynolds County. Patricia Jane “Patsy” Potter, widow of Sanford, greeted the Lord on the first of January, 2023 to ring in eternity. Her death had been expected since the day prior, and she had made it known to loved ones that she expected them to follow her to Gloryland. She died peacefully in bed, her only earthly wish was a drink of water. She declared “I’ll never have to draw another bucket”, and indeed she is now in the presence of living waters by the river of life.
In her youth, when death took her mother and father, Patsy was the oldest girl of the twelve children. Assuming the role of a mother figure to the younger children, she dropped out of grade school to help raise them. She did boy’s and girl’s chores alike, from cutting wood and helping the boys in the log woods to cooking meals, doing laundry, raising a garden, and even making the kids behave in church.
The matriarch of the Potter family, she was loved by all that knew her, and never had an enemy. She was a homemaker as well as a provider, and her cooking was the favorite of many. She was a loving and nurturing sister, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. The state of her earthly body, from crooked fingers to bent back, was a testament to her years of hard work. But she now has a new body in heaven where she will sing with the angels and the saints of God.
She was born February 20, 1939 to Thomas Benton Stevenson and Marie Charlton Stevenson in Vulcan, Iron County, Missouri. She was united in marriage to Sanford Jones Potter at Vulcan on July 20, 1957 and to them were born four children-two boys and two girls. They were married for 59 years when he preceded her in death by almost six years. She was also preceded in death by her parents Benton and Marie Stevenson, brothers Guy, Eugene, Vernon, Lowell, and Richard “Dickie” Stevenson, sisters Melba Clifford and Carolyn Fulton, and one great grandson, Evan Potter.
She is survived by her children: Donna Staats and husband Ellis of Ellington, Randy Potter and wife Barbara of Piedmont, Ronnie Potter and wife Kelly of Piedmont, and Marsha Caldwell and husband Tony of St. Charles, grandchildren and great grandchildren, Shannon Staats, Amanda Potter, Darren Potter and wife Tracie, Kendra Roach and husband Malcolm, Nicholas Potter and wife Anna, Michael Potter, Ellie Potter, Bryant, Carson, Natalie, and Alex Roach, and brothers, Jerry Ray Stevenson of DeSoto and Gary “Cokie” Stevenson and wife Rita of Kentucky, and sisters Shirley Caldwell of Wappapello and Charlotte “Duby” McClain and husband Dennis of O’Fallon, and many nieces, nephews and other family and friends.
She was a devout Christian, and a long time member of Mt. Zion General Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school. She led by example. Her sweet singing and earnest prayers will be missed.
Funeral services were held on Friday, January 6, 2023 at the Morrison Funeral Chapel in Piedmont with Rev. Danny Robinson officiating. Special recorded songs were played for the service and Nicholas Potter, Michael Potter, Darren Potter, Junior Potter, Malcolm Roach and Brian Cole served as Pall Bearers. Interment was in the Potter Cemetery under the direction of Morrison Funeral Chapel. Memorials have been requested to the Potter Cemetery Fund.
