Jerry Lee Potter

Jerry Lee Potter, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, entered his eternal home on August 18, 2026. He was born on February 22, 1943, to Benjamin and Hazel Potter in Valley Springs, Arkansas, where he grew up on the family farm and first learned the values of hard work, family, and personal responsibility that shaped the rest of his life.

Jerry’s legacy is best seen in the family he loved and the example he set. He was deeply devoted to his wife, daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandson. He believed in the strength of family and lived by a clear code of morals, ethics, and integrity. Those values were not simply spoken; they were demonstrated through the way he worked, the way he cared for others, and the steady, dependable presence he provided to those around him.

After graduating from Valley Springs School, Jerry earned a degree in Civil and Structural Engineering from the University of Arkansas. He began his career in Forest City, Arkansas, before returning to the University of Arkansas to complete his master’s degree. He later accepted a position in Charleston, West Virginia, with the Federal Highway Administration. It was there that he met Phyllis, the love of his life. They were married on May 29, 1971, and built a life centered on family, faithfulness, and quiet devotion.

Jerry and Phyllis welcomed their daughter Cindy in 1973, followed by their daughter Jamea in 1975. Jerry’s engineering career took the family to several states, including Virginia, Florida, Georgia, and Maryland. His work included involvement with major engineering landmarks such as the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg, Florida. He retired after an esteemed career of over 40 years in 2005.

Many summers were spent exploring the United States together, with Jerry turning every road trip into an adventure. From the narrow dirt road up Pikes Peak in Colorado, to the colors of the Grand Canyon, to the wide-open roads through the Indian and Monument Valleys of Utah, to the San Antonio River Walk, he shared with his family the beauty, history, and diversity of the country he loved.

True to his calculating mind, Jerry often chose the road less traveled, sometimes stretching the gas gauge farther than anyone else in the car thought wise. When the needle dipped low and nerves began to rise, he would point ahead and say, “See that water tower over there? We can make it there and get gas.” Somehow, he always did, even after passing more than a few perfectly good gas stations along the way.

His love for travel lead to him and Phyllis living for many years on the road exploring America in their RV after his retirement.

Jerry will be remembered for his devotion to family, his steady character, his belief in honest work, and his conviction that anything worth doing deserved a full measure of effort. He gave one hundred percent to his work, his family, and his life, and he leaves behind a legacy of strength, kindness, and example that will continue through all who loved him.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Hazel Potter; his brothers Ross, Don, and Joe and sister-in-law Shirley; and his in-laws, Forest and Juanita Rucker. He is survived by his beloved wife, Phyllis; daughter Cindy and her husband, Scott; daughter Jamea and her husband, Casey; grandchildren David and his wife, Sydney, Madison and her fiancé, Lincoln, Samantha, and Jordan; great-grandson Levi; sisters Mava Barney and her husband, Gary, and Connie Bell; brother-in-law Robert Rucker; and many nieces and nephews.

In keeping with Jerry’s final wishes, a private ceremony for immediate family will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jerry’s honor to the Colton Edwards Memorial Scholarship Fund. Colton was the oldest son of Jerry’s niece Kim and her husband, Randy, and he was lost to this world far too early. Donations may be sent to: Colton Edwards Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Valley Springs School, P.O. Box 640, Valley Springs, AR 72682.