Sara Margaret Potter

Sara Margaret Hendricks Potter, 88, of Mission Viejo, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, on August 30, 2026, after a brief illness. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker whose life was defined by her deep love for her family and her unwavering support for her community.

Sara was born January 3, 1938, on the family farm in Darkesville, West Virginia, to Daniel W. Hendricks III and Margaret E. Polhamus. Growing up, she often traveled the mile to the school bus stop tandem on horseback. Sara graduated from Shepherdstown High School. After high school she attended the Lucy Webb Hayes School of Nursing at Sibley Hospital in Washington, D.C., on a full scholarship. It was there that she met the love of her life, a young medical student named John Potter. John and Sara were married July 27, 1957, in Uvilla, West Virginia. The couple lived in Cleveland, Ohio, for four years while John completed his postgraduate training at the Cleveland Clinic. Sara raised her family in Monterey Park and then La Cañada Flintridge. She lived in Mission Viejo from 2001 until her death.

Sara spent many years beautifully balancing the roles of dedicated mother and loving wife. She was deeply involved in her sons’ education, serving as an active member of the PTA, and she worked tirelessly alongside her late husband, John Potter, supporting his local medical practice. Sara loved cooking, gardening, and hosting large gatherings of family and friends. She is remembered for her warmth, kindness, generosity and just being fun to be around.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Potter, who passed away in 2003. She is survived by her three sons: her oldest son, Jeffery Potter of Pasadena, California; her middle son, Daniel Potter of Laguna Beach, California; and her youngest son, Mark Potter of Mission Viejo, California; as well as grandchildren Mathew Potter of Porter Ranch, California; Megan Jeong of Altadena, California; Sophia Potter of Boston, Massachusetts; Camilla Potter of Laguna Beach, California; and John D. “Jack” Potter of Laguna Beach, California.

A service will be held to honor her life, and she will be laid to rest alongside her husband at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar, California.