Betty J. Potter

As much as Betty Potter loved being surrounded by the splendor and beauty of nature, her most favorite place to be was in the loving presence of her precious family. Betty possessed a unique zest for life as evidenced by the colorful mosaic of memories she leaves behind. She was a compassionate woman, giving in nature and it was in this spirit that she cared for her beloved husband throughout his long battle with cancer. It was through her faith that Betty traveled the peaks and valleys along her lifes journey. Fred and Lillian (Hamlin) Schultz of Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the parents of their loving daughter Betty on May 3, 1928. Betty joined older siblings Harry, Eva, Donald Dutch, and Bernard in the Schultz family and her with her arrival their family was complete. Although she was born in Grand Rapids, Betty spent her formative years in Muskegon where her mother owned a boarding house on Allen Avenue which was where their family also resided. Betty attended Angel Elementary and she later graduated from Muskegon High School in 1946. Just a few years later, Betty met a man named Richard Dick Potter. He was a charming young man from Ludington who lived at the boarding house. Betty was just 21 years old at the time and for the following few years, the couple went on numerous dates together. Slowly over time, Betty and Dick fell in love and on January 6, 1951, they were united in marriage at the Central United Methodist Church in Muskegon. Married life suited them well, they were happy newlyweds and they purchased their first home in Fruitport on Dangel Road where they hosted an annual birthday party for her mother each August. During a time when the average annual salary was just shy of $3000, Dick worked in construction and Betty was a cashier. Life was not all about work though and the couple enjoyed spending time outdoors together when their schedules allowed. In 1955, Betty began working at Sealed Power in Muskegon where she would work for the remainder of her career. In the late sixties, Betty met a fellow employee named Rod Paulin whom Betty and Dick invited into their life. Later in his life, Rod married Mary Ellen in 1970 and because he was so deeply impacted by the relationship he built with both Betty and Dick, he named his son Rick (Richard). Rick then became their grandson who brought them much joy and with whom they also had a close relationship. Rick later married Renee` and they blessed Betty with two great grandsons, Case and Camron. Betty and Dick exemplified the notion that love between family is not merely a matter of biology, but a matter of the heart. Family was always of great importance to Betty and she treasured close relationships with numerous family members. She was especially close to her mother who loved to make fried donuts at home. Betty was deeply saddened with the death of her mother when Lillian was 98 years old. There were many precious memories made for many years to come when their family gathered to celebrate Christmas at her niece Joys home. With her leisure time, there were a variety of activities that Betty enjoyed, most of which she shared with her husband. They both loved playing cards, camping, and traveling to destinations such as Arizona, the Grand Canyon, and Florida. In the early seventies, they bought a trailer at Big Star Lake, located just south and west of Baldwin, and from that point on, they spent the majority of their weekends there. After Betty retired in 1985 having given Sealed Power 30 years of service, she had even more time to pursue her passions. She was a member of Forest Park Community Church and was also a member of the Muskegon Vikings. Dick and Betty had three dogs, Penny, Heidi, and Cricket who occupied significant places in both their hearts and their home for many years. Life became more difficult for Betty and Dick when he was plagued by cancer for a number of years. During this time, Betty tenderly cared for him until his death on May 24, 1996. Betty drew strength from both her faith and her family during the days that followed and she continued to embrace life too, making the most of each day she was given. Betty was an avid Detroit Tigers fan who even traveled to Florida for their spring training camp as often as she could. Betty became faced with her own health challenges in 2003 when she herself was diagnosed with cancer. She fought her illness valiantly, even undergoing chemotherapy but sadly, Betty was unable to overcome the disease. Betty Potter was a fun-loving woman with a quick wit and loving devotion not only to her family, but to all those within her reach. She was an honest woman who sacrificially gave of herself to others and she brought light and life to the world around her each and every day. Betty was happiest when she was surrounded by her loving family and she will be dearly missed by all those she leaves behind. Betty J. Potter died on Thursday, July 2, 2009. Bettys family includes her nieces: Kay (John) Frisch and family, Joy (Gale) Noel and Kahler families (Donald deceased), Maggie (Dale) Wright and family, Susie O'Connell; nephew: Lee (Cleo) Metzger and family; sisters-in-law, Lorene Kahler and family (William deceased), Dottie (Don) Shroeder and family; extended family: Rod (Mary Ellen) Paulin; grandson, Rick (Renee`) Paulin and children; and her many special friends. She was preceded in death by her sister, Eva Iverson; brothers, Donald Metzger, Harry O'Connell, Bernard O'Connell. A celebration of Bettys life will be held on Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Clock Chapel with Rev. Ken Vanderlaan officiating. Visit with Bettys family and friends on Thursday, one hour prior to the service at Clock Life Story Funeral Homes - Muskegon location - Muskegon, MI. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can leave a favorite memory or make a memorial contribution to the American Cancer Society or Heartland Hospice - Grand Rapids.