Anthony "Tony" Pothier

Anthony Joseph Pothier, age 90, born June 13, 1923 in Bottineau North Dakota died Oct 9, 2013. He graduated high school in Minot ND in 1941, migrated to Seattle, WA with his parents and soon after moved to Yakima. In 1963 he moved to the west side where he spent the next 40 years in Vancouver & Longview before returning to Yakima.

His employment history included heating and air conditioning, shipyard welding, motel proprietor, and owner/operator of Tony's Sweeper Service in Longview WA. He enjoyed working with his hands and was a self-taught handyman that could fix anything.

Music was Anthony’s passion. He played guitar and sang all his life. Many a gathering included jam sessions at friends’ homes. He was a member of a band who performed locally in the 60’s and more recently enjoyed playing his guitar and singing at local nursing homes. He also looked forward to Sunday’s crooning with friends at the Broadmoor Park clubhouse.

Tony was a lifelong Catholic who attended St. Rose of Longview and Holy Redeemer of Yakima.

He was a 42 year member of Washington Elks Club & served as the Exalted Ruler in Longview and also had the honor of serving as the Washington State District Deputy/Grand Exalted Ruler. He was also an Eagles member in Longview, WA. He helped bring many country & western acts to both clubs and

served on many different committees. Upon returning to Yakima, he also served as secretary and president at the Broadmoor Park Association.

His hobbies included camping, fishing, boating, woodworking, jewelry beading, country western music & keeping up with family and friends on his computer. He very much enjoyed traveling with his wife which included trips to Branson, MO, The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Graceland in Memphis, New Orleans twice, Hawaii twice & several trips snowbirding in California.

Tony is survived by Lydia I Pothier (wife of 50 years); sons, Greg (Maureen), Ken (Teresa), Tony (Kathy), Van (Debby) and Don (Debby) Pothier; daughters, Sharon (Bryan) Pruitt, Jean (Bob) McDaniel & Darlene (Mark) Robbins, and numerous grandchildren & great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Peter & Delia Pothier, Ann Bristol Pothier; sisters, Beatrice Jenson, Teresa Harrell, Beulah Danielson, Celia Boucher, Marie Kuk and brothers, Ernest and Phillip Pothier.

Special Thanks to the staff of Willow Springs for their loving care of Anthony in his final weeks. May God Bless them all. And now as Tony would like to say, “I’ll let you get back to your knitting."

A Celebration of Anthony’s life will be at 1pm, Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at Keith and Keith Funeral Home. To share a memory of Tony please go to www.keithandkeith.com.