Ronda Ruth Mote

1937-2018

Missouri farm girl turned Texas suburban card shark, Ronda Ruth Potter Mote peacefully relinquished her seat at her regular Bridge and Nickel Up games and shuffled her final deck on January 26, 2018, in Houston, Texas. She was 80 years old—and, thanks to her decades’ long friendships from the ladies of Kismet Lane and new friends at the Gardens at Spring Shadows, seemed to be getting younger by the minute.

Ronda was born on April 13, 1937, on a cattle ranch in Carthage, Missouri, to Juan and Ruth Potter, flanked in age by her two surviving brothers, Ronald Potter and Larry Potter. She graduated from Carthage High School in 1955. Five years later, she stole her best friend’s date and married the first and only love of her life, Jack Mote, on September 10, 1960. They moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and then to Houston, Texas, where nearly every night for the 38 years of their marriage, (weather permitting) they brewed a big pot of coffee (caf and decaf), put their lawn chairs out on the driveway of their cul-de-sac on Kismet Lane and visited with nearly a dozen neighbors and their kids.

Ronda, also known as mom, grandma, gamma, Aunt Mote, and Rhoda by her very closest of friends, was preceded in death by Jack Mote and is survived by her three daughters and sons-in-law, Kelly and her husband Bob, Angela and her husband Geno, and Sarah and her husband Barry; her five grandchildren Chris, Patrick, Kevin, Brianna, and Finn; and her two great grandsons, Luke and Robert.

Ronda’s laugh, sweet voice, firm hugs, soft hands and big heart will be deeply missed by her family, friends and neighbors. A funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 31 at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home and Cemetery.