Richard Michael Potter

Our beloved Son, Brother, Uncle, and Friend, Richard Michael Potter, 56, slipped peacefully into the arms of his heavenly father Jesus, Saturday, September 10, 2011, during his short stay at Heritage Gardens Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Carrollton, Texas.

A Memorial Service will be held to honor his life Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 7:00 P.M. at Bratcher Funeral Home, 401 West Woodard Street, Denison Texas, with Dr. Chet Haney officiating.

Rick was born in Heidelberg, Germany on June 8, 1955. He was preceded in death by his adopted Mother Hilda Potter of Denison, Texas and his birth Mother Irmgard Walter of Heidelberg, Germany who passed away on July 10, 2011.

As a child growing up in Denison, Texas, Rick attended Parkside Baptist Church from the age of 5 until he moved to Gainesville, Texas. Rick held a perfect attendance record for 14 consecutive years at Parkside.

Rick graduated from Denison High School in 1973 and continued his education at Grayson County College to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse and graduation in 1974. Ricks love for nursing started at Madonna Hospital as an orderly in Denison, Texas. Rick worked in a variety of medical facilities in places such as the State School in Gainesville Texas, the Louisiana State Prison in Angola, Louisiana and the Dallas County Jail in Dallas, Texas. He continued his nursing education at Tarrant County Junior College in Nursing Home Administration. Rick worked as a nurse in the Vocational Counseling & Rehabilitation Services in St. Louis, Mo. He also worked in Boca Raton, Florida and Savoy Nursing Home, Savoy, Texas. Rick did a lot of private duty nursing for many of his friends. Rick loved landscaping where he worked in Dallas, Texas for many years. Rick also loved to travel, collect match box cars and antiques. Rick touched many lives during his short life and he will be missed greatly.

In 2007, Rick was reunited by telephone with his birth Mother Irmgard Walter and found out about his eight brothers and sisters and his huge extended family in Germany. Shortly after the telephone reunion with his birth mother, he flew to Heidelberg, Germany and was reunited with his mom and met his brothers and sisters for the first time. Each of Rick’s brothers and sisters loved him and accepted him with open arms. Rick made several more trips to Heidelberg to get to know more about his family and German heritage.

Richard is survived by his adopted Father Jesse C. Potter Jr., his sister Linda Thomas, her husband Charley Thomas, all of Denison, Texas, his niece Allison Lee-Anne Essin, her husband Sam Essin and their daughters, Ella Grace, Kimber Faith and Logann Hope of Sherman, Texas, and Linda’s Sister Angie Dennis of Pittsburg, Kansas.

Rick is survived by his brothers: Thomas, Udo Helmut, and Heiner Zimmerman, his sisters: Angelika (Geli) Wind, Dorle Gand, Engrid Zimmerman, and Rosie Fischer, Aunts Hannelor Hildebrand, and Renada, and his Uncle Dieter all residing in Heidelberg, Germany.

Rick is also survived by his Aunt Christa Murgida in Beverly, Massachusetts, Aunt Irene in North Carolina, Aunt Jessie Mae and Uncle Bob in South Carolina and Aunt Carline in Georgia. There are numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in both the United States and Germany.

Thank You so very much to all of his friends that helped to take care of Rick while he was sick at home, in the hospital and Rehab Center. You are all a blessing and an answered prayer. Thank you for the cards, and prayers they were a comfort to Rick and to his family. God Bless you all.

To honor Richards’s lifelong commitment to helping those in need, the family asks that donations be made to the Grayson County Shelter. To make a donation, please contact Director Page First at the Grayson County Shelter, 331 West Morton Street, Denison, Texas 75020. Phone (903) 465-6041.

Arrangements are entrusted to Bratcher Funeral Home, 401 W. Woodard Street, Denison, TX 75020 (903) 465-2323. Further information is on our website at www.bratcherfuneralhome.com