Arva Orme Potter was born on December 3, 1923 in Wilford, ID. She was the second child of Joseph Roy and Vivian (Hobbs) Orme. She had one older sister, two younger sisters and a younger brother. She was raised in Wilford on a potato and wheat farm that was next to the farm of her future husband.
She met her husband, Weston Lynn Potter, in the seventh grade when his family moved to Wilford. They attended school together and were friends over their school years. During her later high school years, she decided to stop lining Wes up with her friends and began to date him herself. After high school graduation, Wes went off to Idaho State University and Arva attended Ricks College. Wes joined the Navy during WWII and they were married while he was on leave on March 20, 1945. After the war ended, they made their home in Salt Lake City where Wes went to school at the University of Utah. After he graduated they moved to Castle Gate, Utah. In 1959, they moved to Glenrock, Wyoming. They moved to Hillsboro, OR in 1973 where Arva resided until 2010. She then moved to Albany, OR to be near her family.
Arva was a loving and devoted mother to her five children: Hal (1946-1948), Lynn (65), Lee (1951-2012), Steve (58) and Mike (52). Arva loved being a homemaker but always wanted to finish the degree she started at Ricks College. With the full support of Wes and her family, she completed a teaching degree at the University of Wyoming in 1972. She began her teaching career when she was 55, after Wes passed away, and was a successful and sought after 4th Grade teacher until she retired at age 72. Unlike many teachers, she thoroughly enjoyed her male students and their straightforward approach. Her love of learning and the importance of education were principles she instilled in her children and grandchildren. She was an accomplished seamstress and cook. Later in her life, she developed her hidden talent as a wood carver and has left numerous works that are treasured by her family.
She was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Arva served as a Friday evening temple worker in the Portland Oregon Temple from the time it opened in 1986 until her health made her unable to continue about five years ago. She served in various capacities in the organizations of the Church throughout her life.
Arva suffered more than her fair share of heartache in her long life. She lost her first child to an accident just before he turned two years old and her second son passed away in 2012. It is hard for a parent to outlive their children. Her husband passed away at an early age and she was a widow for 36 years - longer than she was married. Perhaps these experiences helped to shape her into the strongly independent and determined woman she was.
Arva passed away on June 6, 2014 at the age of 90. She was the last remaining member of her family being preceded in death by her parents, an older sister, Faye Stowell, younger sisters Dona Newby and Marie Dunkley and younger brother Max Orme.
The obituary that was published in the local papers is as follows:
Arva Orme Potter, 90, of Albany, OR, passed away on June 6, 2014. She was born on December 3, 1923 to Joseph Roy and Vivian Orme in Wilford, Idaho. Arva had four siblings who preceded her in death; Faye Stowell, Dona Newby, Marie Dunkley, and Max Orme. She married her sweetheart, Weston Potter, on March 20, 1945 and they were blessed with five children. She was preceded in death by her husband, son Hal, and son Lee. She is survived by her children, Lynn Peterson (Van) of Queen Creek, AZ; Steve Potter (Cheryl) of Highland, UT; and Mike Potter (Mary) of Albany, OR; 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. She was a devoted wife and mother to her family and was a talented seamstress and cook. Her love of learning and education led her to a career as a 4th grade teacher later in life. She treasured her 17 years in the classroom. An accomplished wood carver, she has left numerous works that are treasured by her family. A lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints she devoted much of her time to service in various capacities, including the Portland Temple.
Visitation Saturday, June 14 12:00 ‚ 2:00 pm at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. A graveside service will be held at the Salt Lake City Cemetery on June 14, 2014 at 2:30 pm.
