Obituary of Joseph Allen Potter

Joe “Jos” Potter. My Dad the Scientist: geologist, botanist, wildlife biologist, forester, land manager. My dad the Industrious: mechanic, surveyor, engineer, boat builder, house builder. My dad the Naturalist and Adventurer: hiker, mountaineer, white water kayaker, sailor, park and trailer designer. My dad the Artist: writer, poet, sketcher, carver, gem faceter, photographer. Dad excelled at whatever he put his mind and hands to. He loved the natural beauty and wild, open spaces of the West, abandoning a promising career in applied research in order to become a forester, and work in the woods. Fighting fires, cruising timber, managing timber sales, and helping deliver such beloved public enjoyment spaces as Mount Si and Cama Beach State Park, were all part of a distinguished career at Washington State Department of Natural Resources. In retirement, his multitude of talents and interests kept him consistently busy and entertained. His love of nature and critters was often the topic of his writing, sketching, and carving. He loved geology and was fascinated by the processes that create the landscapes he adored. He was brilliantly smart, had a fantastic sense of humor, and was very kind. I am privileged to have had him for my Father. I will be forever grateful for all that he did for me. I am sure he finds the mountains and forests of Heaven to be spectacular. I love you, Dad. See you when I get there.