Elmer C. Potter, 93

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. —  Elmer Charles Potter, 93, who moved to Fort Kent in 2005, passed away September 17, after spending his final few days in hospice at the Aroostook House of Comfort in Presque Isle. He received nearly four years of fine care at the Maine Veterans Home in Caribou. Elmer was born on March 28, 1928 in Gill, Massachusetts spending many boyhood days on the banks of the Connecticut River. He was the son of the late Elmer W. and Helen (Laskowski) Potter. He was orphaned at the age of 10, and along with his four siblings was cared for by the Jarvis Family on their farm on Stafford Hill, an historic Civil War mustering field in Adams, Massachusetts.

Elmer was drafted into the US Army Air Corps in 1946, serving as Staff Sergeant, in the Army of Occupation, Nagasaki, Japan and was honorably discharged in 1949 and continued to served in the US Air Force Reserve until 1953. He returned to western Massachusetts to serve the City of North Adams for 15 years as a career Firefighter needing to retire early from a lung injury sustained during his military service. He was a private pilot and active in the local Chapter of the Civil Air Patrol and was involved in several plane crash recoveries from the rugged mountains of western Mass. Elmer was a fisherman and loved the woods and would hike miles to fish remote beaver ponds. He loyally foraged for mushrooms in the Fall, his favorite time of year.

He is survived by two sisters, Shirley, of Berlin, MA and Helen, of Pepperell, MA, a daughter, Ellen (Frankie) Potter and her partner, Janice Vassar and their daughter Rebecca, of Champlin, MN and a son, David and his partner Betty Gardner, of Fort Kent, ME and several nieces and nephews. Elmer is predeceased by his wife, Angela, of 48 years, his parents, a sister, Millie and a brother, Edward.

Loved by his family and admired by many others, a graveside service and interment for Elmer and Angelina Potter will be held on Friday October 29, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the Southview Cemetery in North Adams, Massachusetts. Donations in his name may be made to PAWS Animal Shelter, in Fort Kent. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.