Foster “Mac(k)” Potterf was born on January 17, 2001 in Everett to Christy and Tim Potterf. He was, without any doubt, the best big brother that Drake Brunson, 9, could have ever had. Early on in his life it was obvious that Foster was brilliant. He was bussed to different schools for Highly Capable students. He was always in Advanced Placement Classes. Even before he could read or write, he was an amazing story-teller. When he was four, he would ask his father’s nurses to write his story that he would tell them orally. He would then draw pictures to illustrate the stories. He would draw popular anime characters, but also make up his own original characters. He was a gifted writer from early on. In 2nd grade they bumped him up to 4th grade reading. But all his life, Foster always downplayed his stellar intellect. He never thought that he excelled because it just came naturally to him. He was so humble.
Foster could get hyper-focused on the things that held his interest. He was obsessed with a video game, Animal Crossing, from when he was 8 years old until he passed. He collected amiibos too. He was an accomplished video gamer, whether with Pokémon and other games, but always with Animal Crossing. It was often noted that no one put as much detail and design into their gaming as Foster did. He would customize a highly pixelated flag or create a perfectly designed garden, or an elaborate house, or some other detail. He just had a knack for game design. And he was disciplined in achieving mastery of the video games. He would play each game until he mastered them. He was also a huge Disney fan. He probably watched every single Disney Movie and visited Disney multiple times through his life.
Foster also had an inquisitive mind and a gift for investigating the goings-on of the video and digital worlds. He knew, months in advance, for example, which characters would soon be added to Smash Brothers or which new game might soon be coming out. He also knew in precise detail, what Disney’s plan was for opening new rides or closing old rides. He might say, “I would wait till July to go to Disney, because that’s when they will open the new Remy’s Ratatouille trackless ride.” Drake expressed worry that he would have no one to inform him of the latest happenings. Foster was just very thorough in his investigative research.
Foster had a life-long love affair with Louis Vuitton. He had Louis Vuitton tattoos on his fingers. His cellphone cover was Louis Vuitton. He had many pieces of Louis Vuitton luggage. For his 17th birthday, he had a special Louis Vuitton cake. He was just deeply into designer fashion and brands. He could recognize every designer bag in the grocery store. He always looked very fashionable, dressed in his Yeezy’s, and with maybe a black Gucci sweatshirt hoodie, paired with a Louis Vuitton backpack, and skinny jeans with artfully ripped knees. This might be changed out from time to time with Timberline boots, or Pink Adidas shoes, with a matching pink Adidas jacket and accessorized with a pink Adidas cap.
Foster was a long time vegan. He was disciplined in his diet. But he would eat, from time to time, fresh eggs, but only the ones raised by his mom, Chris. And he would only eat cupcakes made by his mom that were made from those family-fresh eggs. He would not eat anything dairy, but once a year, on his birthday at the Great Wolf Lodge, he would partake in his annual indulgence of the “Dippin’ Dots”, in the birthday cake flavor.
He loved animals. When he was young he had a huge animal collection, almost like a pet shop-sized collection. And as he got older, he kept two chinchillas. Two cockatiels. Two tarantulas. Four parakeets. A turtle. One leopard gecko. And a baby hedgehog. He was a passionate guardian of his menagerie.
Foster was very sweet and protective of his friends and family. And very loving. He was faithful. Makaylee was his best friend from the third grade. She lived in the same household with Foster and Eli. He mentored Eli, his boyfriend, and was influential in his life. He just pointed him in the right direction and showed him how to be better; to live better.
He was deliberative and thoughtful when it came time to buy gifts for his tribe. For Drake’s very first birthday, Foster gave him a Build-A-Bear with a Seahawks costume. For his mother’s birthday he bought her a basket full of Mickey Mouse themed gifts - an apron, washcloth, hand-lotion, etc, all emblazoned with Mickey Mouse as a theme. He also gave Chris, his mom, a Tony Romo Build-A-Bear, since she is such a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys. He put thought and personalized care into his gifts. Over his lifetime, Foster probably made 30 Build-A-Bears. To the end, he had 4 Build-A-Bears in his room, all Pokémon characters.
He was really close with his dad, Tim, too. Foster went with his dad to so many concerts. That was the thing they did together; the activity that most brought them together. They would, from time to time, even get special up-front seats at the concerts. They went almost every year to the Space Needle New Year’s fireworks display. Foster and his dad were very dear to each other.
Foster will be remembered for how expressive he was with his love. Chris remembers fondly wake up in the morning to his text’s “I love you, Mum!” He was also so loving to his dad and all of his friends.
Foster will also be remembered for how exceptionally loving he was to his younger brother Drake. He was so very proud of his little brother Drake and would even pretend to be Drake’s dad in the store. Foster would often take Drake to the park. He would encourage his younger brother to “level up on Cuphead”. He was just so loving. When Foster built his Build-A-Bear for Drake, he tugged on his own ear as he rubbed on the new bear’s ear; he took the forming bear’s heart and rubbed it on his own heart. Drake now sleeps with Foster’s Build-A-Bear. He holds it close to his heart.
Foster Potterf’s last day with us physically on this earth was on May 28, 2020. He was 19 years old. His death can never steal his stories or our memories of him.
He is survived by his father Tim Potterf, his mother Chris Potterf, and by his step-father Malcolm Brunson.
His love and legacy will live on his beloved younger brother Drake Brunson.
His boyfriend Eli and his friend from childhood Makaylee grieve his tragic loss.
We will miss our bright light, Foster. But we will treasure his memories deeply in our hearts. Forever.
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