Doreta Joy Potter

Doreta Joy Potter was born on June 17, 1938 in Sweetwater, Oklahoma, to Hazel Marie Jarnagin and Troy Curvin Taylor. She passed away peacefully on November 30, 2025 at home in Amarillo at the age of 87 years, 5 months, and 13 days.

Doreta attended high school in Amarillo. She was accepted into and graduated from Nursing school. She was married to Jim W. Potter in 1955. She worked as a nurse her entire career. From the time she began her family and through having 4 children, eventually became a single working mom until she retired in 2013.

She avidly attended church until mobility issues stopped her. Then, she was faithful to attend church via live streaming services. She loved and served her Savior, Jesus Christ, with her whole heart and her life. She shared Jesus every chance she had. She never turned down an opportunity to share her love for Jesus and His love for them, help someone in need, or just love on them because it was what her Savior would do. She was a giver and was always ready and willing to give what she had, even if it meant her going without.

She loved her children and grandchildren more than anyone on this earth. She was a prayer warrior. She prayed diligently for her children and grandchildren, church and pastor, and extended family and friends.

She loved music, singing, harmonizing, playing the piano by ear, keeping time on the offbeat (if you know, you know), gardening, crocheting, sewing, looking through her old photos, journaling, reminiscing about family memories, cooking (especially for her family), and baking sourdough bread. Also, she could hold her own in building projects and home maintenance.

Gabriael recorded her final words to her children - "What makes me happy is loving you and what you like. I love Jesus, and I like music. Be kind and do good. Take care of the sick and watch over the kids. Give them money so they will be happy. Have fun! Even with people you don't know."

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Curvin Ray, and sister, Phyllis, son-in-law, Gary, and daughter-in-law, Kellie.

She is survived by her children: her daughter, Joy Mayfield of Erick, OK; her son, Tim Potter of Cushing, OK; her daughter, Merri Howard and husband Dennis of Amarillo, TX; her daughter, Shoni Bryan and husband, Michael of Amarillo, TX; 8 grandchildren, Warren Mayfield and wife, Lynsi; Leah Pierce and husband, Jarrod; Jacob Mayfield and wife, Molly; David Potter and wife, Stephanie; TJ Potter and wife, Sadie; Kaitlyn Howard; Nathanael Bryan and wife, Melissa; Gabriael Henderson and husband, Aaron; 16 great grandchildren, Maggie Joy, JJ and Aaron and wife, Brinn, Andrew, Ainsley, and Hunter, Hayden, and Dax, Bodhi, and Jace, Rubie, and Hope, Faith, Moses, Ezekiel, and Guinevere, and many relatives and friends.