Barry Michael Potter, age 76, passed away this past Monday morning around 10:00am at the Renaissance Senior Care Center in Helena, MT on March 6, 2023 from Alzheimer’s Dementia. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Dorothy Gunlock Potter.
Barry was born on June 25, 1946 in Billings, MT where he lived as the only son to Robert & Pauline Potter. After graduation, Barry moved to Seattle, WA. Here he went to college and worked for some time, before moving to Helena, MT. In Helena he married his first wife Diane Potter, and they raised their only daughter Lorelei Angela (Michael) Roberts. Lorelei had two children Landara Marie Cottrill (Brendan) and Drake Wyatt Hosford.
During that time, Barry worked as an electrical engineer overseas in Africa for several years with his lifelong friend Charles Cooper. He enjoyed talking about these experiences and this period of his life. He later settled in Helena as a business owner where he ran his business Ideal Services for many years. He later divorced Diane, and married Dorothy Gunlock Potter.
Dorothy had three adult children, Kimberly Dawn (Dallas) Schaefer, Mark Allen (Rocel) D’Avis, and Jamie Rae Houtchens. Together through marriage Barry & Dorothy have several other extended family members and great-grandchildren; Austin Roberts, Brionna Roberts, Jacob Weise, Ashley (Jasper) Weise, Salem Grey, Sylas, Kelsie Leigh (Josh) Schaefer, Tara D’Avis, Malachi, Eli, Danielle Houtchens (deceased), and Kaylee Houtchens.
Barry enjoyed being outdoors fishing, camping, hiking and exploring. He also loved reading (he once even bought an entire encyclopedia set and did his best to read it A-Z). He loved cooking breakfast, making soups, and baking bread. He enjoyed all kinds of games from chess, backgammon or Go, to poker or computer games. Barry was always tinkering around with something. Even in his last years he could be found taking apart something in his room trying to “engineer a way to fix it.”
Barry loved meeting with their friends at the Traumatic Brain Injury group he and Dorothy attended regularly. He enjoyed “burning a dog around the fire” which meant having family over to cook hotdogs and s’mores around the chiminea in his backyard. Barry was a conversationalist. He could pick up a conversation and talk on almost any subject with anyone. He was famous for his sayings, but among them here are a few of our family favorites; “I didn’t do it and I’ll never do it again,” “Does a fat puppy fart if you kick it,” “Whatever floats your goat,” and one of my personal favorites, “Keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down.”
Never a man for goodbyes we’ll just say, “Seeya soon Dad we all love you big bunches.”
Memorials Suggested to: PO Box 1546, E Helena, MT 59635.
A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, June 25, 2023 (10:00-5:00) @ 411 E Dudley St., E Helena, MT 59635
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday June 25, 2023
411 E Dudley St
East Helena, MT
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday June 25, 2023
411 E Dudley St
East Helena, MT
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Jim Mayer says
I was Barry’s mailman for some years at his business. Always looked forward to seeing him and hearing about Ethiopia and Taco Tuesday. He seemed to like the poster of giant eel I brought back from Thailand supposedly killed on the Mekong River, so I gave it to him. Next time I saw him was at Touchmark and then he disappeared from there too. Elusive guy.Good guy. Thinking of him always makes me smile. RIP
Mike Lee says
Hello to the family of Barry Michael Potter. I send my condolences to you. After reading Barry’s 3/11/23 obituary in Helena’s IR, I wanted to say a few things about Barry. We attended EMC at the same time, although Barry was about done and I was just starting. We also worked on the EMC NP The Retort. Barry was a colleague in this capacity who was recognized for his literary prowess but also his intellect. He stood out. Barry also was a friend to members of my family. So, last night I pulled off of my dusty bookshelf a couple of The Retort Literary Magazines from the 1971 (roughly) time. Barry contributed to both magazines. I was reminded of his skill as a writer. I enjoyed re-reading his work. He also was a friend. You were lucky to have Barry as a family member. I wish you all peace. Mike Lee