Obituary for Hersel "Yogi" Edgar Potter
Mr. Hersel Edgar “Yogi” Potter, age 84, of Tazewell, Virginia, formerly of Buchanan County, passed away Monday (April 6, 2020) at his home with his family following an extended illness. Born March 6, 1936 in Buchanan County, he was a son of the late Dewey and Frances Stiltner Potter. A veteran of the United States Air Force, he had proudly served his country for four years. He had owned and operated Yogi Mining Company and Yogi Trucking in Grundy, and lastly owned and operated Frog Level Machine Shop in Tazewell. He enjoyed riding his tractor, watching TV, but most of all spending time with his family, especially his grandsons.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Barbara Leigh Potter, whom he loved dearly, two sisters, Irene Gray and Kelsie Potter Endicott, and six brothers, Kennard, Sydney, Sandy, Elzie, Clyde and Roy Potter. In his generation, he was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Survivors include his loving wife, Norma Potter of the home; two step-daughters, Nawana Thomas and husband, Steve of Thomasville, North Carolina, and Hope Proffitt and husband, Charles of Gainesville, Virginia; two grandsons, Connor and Chase Proffitt; one whom he considered a granddaughter, Lydia Matney; two sons, Tim Potter and wife, Tammy, and Jon Potter; granddaughters, Megan, Alyssa, and Emilee; great-grandson, Tim Potter.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Yogi’s neighbors and special friends, Tom and Ann Keene for all of their help, support, and kindness over the past years, his special friends, Doris Bird and Alice Grisby, special niece, Helen Shortridge and a heartfelt thanks to Encompass Health in Bristol, Carilion, and Legacy Hospice nurses for the care they provided.
In consideration of health and well-being of others, private graveside services will be conducted with Minister Mike Rife officiating. Entombment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill, Virginia.
Honorary pallbearers will be Steve Thomas, Charles Proffitt, Mike Boyd, Vernal Boyd, Vernal Lee Boyd, Terry Matney, Shawn Matney, and Jeremy Wilson.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Barbara Leigh Potter, whom he loved dearly, two sisters, Irene Gray and Kelsie Potter Endicott, and six brothers, Kennard, Sydney, Sandy, Elzie, Clyde and Roy Potter. In his generation, he was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Survivors include his loving wife, Norma Potter of the home; two step-daughters, Nawana Thomas and husband, Steve of Thomasville, North Carolina, and Hope Proffitt and husband, Charles of Gainesville, Virginia; two grandsons, Connor and Chase Proffitt; one whom he considered a granddaughter, Lydia Matney; two sons, Tim Potter and wife, Tammy, and Jon Potter; granddaughters, Megan, Alyssa, and Emilee; great-grandson, Tim Potter.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Yogi’s neighbors and special friends, Tom and Ann Keene for all of their help, support, and kindness over the past years, his special friends, Doris Bird and Alice Grisby, special niece, Helen Shortridge and a heartfelt thanks to Encompass Health in Bristol, Carilion, and Legacy Hospice nurses for the care they provided.
In consideration of health and well-being of others, private graveside services will be conducted with Minister Mike Rife officiating. Entombment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill, Virginia.
Honorary pallbearers will be Steve Thomas, Charles Proffitt, Mike Boyd, Vernal Boyd, Vernal Lee Boyd, Terry Matney, Shawn Matney, and Jeremy Wilson.