Theresa M. Potter

Theresa M. Potter of Wichita Falls died March 21, 2025, at the age of 85. She was born April 1,1939 in Eddyville, Nebraska to J. Earl O’Mara and Lou Ellen Wheeler O’Mara. The family farmed in the area. Theresa attended business college and was proud of her profession of accounts receivable throughout her life with different employers. Another hat she wore was helping her sister Angie raise Angie’s four boys in the early 1950’s. She met her husband, James William Potter of Kamay while he was working in the same office in Nebraska. He was the love of her life, and they married on September 12,1964.

Theresa was able to use her bookkeeping skills to assist her husband’s management of different stores for the National Oil Supply Company. The work took them to different locations. They lived in Venezuela, Taft California, Katy Texas, Whitesboro Texas, and then retired in Wichita Falls. Making friends was easy for J.W. and Theresa. They loved to entertain, cook, play bridge, and 42 or 84 dominoes. Table contenders always included Dennis and Judy Applebee or Ted and Bessie Scott. Desserts were usually available from Peggy Potter with chocolate and other flavors of fried pies. After J.W.’s passing, her friend Lori Sickler was instrumental with grief support by attending meetings with Theresa at Hospice. She lived for the last ten and a half years in Rolling Meadows where she met and made lasting friendships, Annette Fleming, Ida Walch, Gail Taylor, and others too numerous to name. Her favorite times included helping with activities and decorations there with her dearest friend, Vickie Pickins.

Theresa was a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband J.W., her brothers, Earl Jerome, James, Rodger, and Kenneth O’Mara, her sister Angela O’Mara Heidemann, and her stepson, whom she adored, John Potter, nieces Sandy Potter, and nephews Cecil Potter and Willie Potter. She is survived by her brother Paul (Kathy), also her stepdaughter, who she always claimed as her own, Debby Patterson (Mark), her daughter-in-law Shelley Potter, her brother-in-law Donald Potter, her grandchildren, Darrell Patterson (Kelly), James Patterson, Wayland Jester (Terri), Forrest Potter, 6 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Close to her are her nieces, Diane O’Mara, Jean Kotara, nephew, Herve O’Mara (Margaret), and Albert O’Mara. Nieces Sheila Conley (Dan), Brenda Rich, nephews David Potter (Dawn), Kevin Coats (Pam), Donald Potter Jr., Greg Potter, Herbert Wilburn and numerous distant nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Services will be at Dutton Funeral Home in Iowa Park at 10 a.m. on March 31, 2025. internment is scheduled for a later date.

In remembrance, the family requests donations to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, Texas 76310.