Michael Wayne Potter

To Michael Wayne Potter, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theatre of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Michael, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Michael really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Michael was born on January 18, 1987 at Ajax-Pickering General; Hospital in Ajax, Ontario. His parents were Don and Carol Potter. Michael was raised in Whitby,Ontario. Even as a child, Michael had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

Always a good playmate, Michael was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Michael managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Michael was raised with three siblings. He had an older half-brother Terry Benson, one older sister Amanda Potter, and one younger brother, Robert Potter.

All of Michael's playful good humour carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Michael experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in baseball, Karate and 10 pin bowling. In his spare time he liked to build model cars. Michael's memorable achievements included winning the Coca-Cola 10 pin bowling tournament.

Michael never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Michael to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Michael delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Michael was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Michael utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of his best friends were Mitch, Charlie, Randy, Tyler, Jesse and Ian. Later in life, he became friends with Adriane, Julian and Daylan. Michael loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

At work, as in life, Michael was a real “people person. ” he had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. When dealing with various projects and problems, Michael was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Michael's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Michael as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was forklift operator in a logistics operation.

Michael enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Michael liked creating and making things. His favourite pursuits were shooting pool and playing cards. Michael was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Michael felt excited and challenged by sports. Michael loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Michael relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Michael never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Michael rode dirt bikes. Michael was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favourite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were UFC, hockey and baseball.

Living life in the fast lane suited Michael just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favourite vacations included Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Amsterdam.

Michael was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of Michael's favorites was Abby, a Bouvier mix. They were best friends for 13 years. His family was rounded out by his rabbit Ozzie and cat Jinx. Michael "adopted" them. Ozzie was let loose by a neighbour and Jinx was part of a litter of kittens that were born in the shed. Michael took them in and gave them both a home.

Michael passed away on July 12, 2010 at Lakeridge Health Oshawa. Michael died suddenly and unexpectedly in a motorcycle accident. He is survived by his parents Don and Carol, by brothers Rob and Terry and by his sister Amanda. Services were held at Oshawa Funeral Home.

Michael brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Michael Wayne Potter lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.