Robert Potter Obituary

"Robert McKinley Potter of Greeneville, "R. M. " to many of his family and friends, passed away on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Johnson City Medical Center at the age of 84. Born on June 26, 1938, in neighboring Cocke County, R. M. was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Martha Jo Potter; parents, Abby Potter and Sally Phillips; step-father, Lawrence Phillips; sister, Vivian Baskette; brother, Ivan Potter; step-brother, Russell Phillips; step-sister-in-law, Judy Phillips; sister-in-law, Joyce Chandler; brother-in-law, Robert Dean "Bob" Justis; co-sister-in-law, Eva Justis; niece, Patti Marie Potter; uncle, Joe Henderson; and aunt, Annie Henderson. Joe and Annie cared for R. M. during part of his childhood in Knoxville. He is survived by his son, David T. Potter; girlfriend, Shirley Cutshaw; step-brothers, Lawrence Phillips, Jr, and Claude Phillips; step-sister, Betty Blanken; sister-in-law, Doris Potter; brothers-in-law, Bill Justis and and John Franklin Justis; co-sisters-in-law, Nancy Justis and Medra Justis; nieces, Kathy Baskette and Jennifer Hensley; nephews, Brent Potter and Kenneth Potter; nephews-in-law, Larry Justis and Johnny Justis; close friends, Harold Weller, Steve Bird, Jim McCurry, Pat Hankins, Joe Dean, Terry Rader, and Larry Rader; close friends and neighbors, Roy Roberts, Tasha Roberts, Wayne Smith, and Mitzi Smith; and many more beloved nieces, nephews, neighbors, cousins, in-laws, and friends. R. M. was a veteran, joining the U. S. Army of his own volition as a young man and serving overseas in the Korean War. After the war, his stateside service concluded in Washington state, after which he returned home to East Tennessee and settled in Greeneville. R. M. then began a lifetime career as an exemplary truck driver. The majority of his career was spent at Magnavox, storied manufacturer of televisions and other electronics, as part of their private trucking fleet. He started at Magnavox when it was an independent company and continued on as it became a subsidiary of Philips Consumer Electronics Corporation, serving them for 29 years until their trucking division was disbanded. Afterwards, R. M. worked very briefly for smaller carriers, then found the second half of his career with Walmart, making long commutes for the opportunity to work out of an Ohio merchandise distribution center before luck and grace led Walmart to open a new distribution center in Greene County. He drove for Walmart for 14 years and then retired. Through his dedicated work for both Magnavox and Walmart, R. M. made even more close friends and colleagues. Outside of work, R. M. developed a life-long love of auto racing and met several all-time greats, including Junior Johnson, Bud Moore, David Pearson, and L. D. Ottinger, as well as local favorites like Buzz Collins, Roy Johnson, Allen Johnson, and Bobby Myers, all of whom he still visited on a regular basis. R. M. was also a long-time member of Greeneville Lodge No. 3 Free and Accepted Masons of Tennessee, also known as Kerbela Temple or the Shriners. He participated in many paper sales and other Shriner charity events, enjoying the work and camaraderie. R. M. also used his skills as a professional truck driver to participate in unique charity opportunities, such as driving Walmart trucks full of needed supplies to hard-hit areas. In retirement R. M. continued with smaller jobs behind the wheel, such as driving a "people-mover" for shuttling attendees at Bristol Motor Speedway. But with most of his working days behind him, he spent more time enjoying breakfast at spots like restaurant Aunt Bee's with his friends Harold Weller and Steve Bird, cookouts hosted by the Rader brothers, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners hosted first by his sister Vivian and carried on by her daughter Kathy, and various more meals with other friends and family. The family extends special thanks to Joyce Wright, FNP, of Summit Family Medicine in Greeneville and Seema Goenka, MD, of the Mountain Home Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System in Johnson City, as well as all staff at both facilities. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 pm on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 8 pm the same evening, Thursday, May 11, 2023, in the Doughty-Stevens Chapel. The Rev. Jim Fillers will officiate. Greeneville Masonic Lodge No. 3 will conduct a masonic service Thursday evening also. Family and friends will meet at Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home at 10 am the following day, Friday, May 12, 2023, before proceeding to the committal service at Cross Anchor Cemetery at 11 am, where he will be laid to rest alongside his wife, Martha Jo. The Greene County Honor Guard will convey military honors at the gravesite. Pallbearers include Kathy Baskette, Brent Potter, Grayson Potter, Kenneth Potter, Dustin Hensley, Harold Weller, Terry Rader, and Larry Rader. Honorary pallbearers include Brandon Baskette, Matthew Hensley, and Tony Randolph. "