Kathy Joanne Potter

Kathy Joanne Franklin Potter passed peacefully into the promise of God’s everlasting life on April 16, 2023, at the age of 68 after her 3 ½ year battle with cancer.

She was born to Ron and Carol Franklin on May 24, 1954, in Walla Walla, WA.

She attended local schools and graduated from WA-HI in 1972. Kathy married the love of her life, Mike Potter, on June 11, 1972, and celebrated their 50th anniversary last year. Kathy and Mike raised their family of eight children in Walla Walla. They became foster parents and touched the lives of many children in the community. Kathy did her best to feed, comfort, and ensure the safety of every child placed in her care. In 2016 they moved to West Richland, WA, to retire.

Kathy’s life was full of activities that focused on faith, family, friends, and her community. She was on the Parish Council and a Eucharistic minister at St Patrick’s Church. She was a board member of Little League for nearly 20 years, a PTA member, and a school volunteer. Her organizational skills were always evident from family gatherings to her service on the WA-HI Class of 72 reunion committee, helping to make these all memorable events. Kathy loved to travel in her RV (The Beast), especially to the beach, and always dreamed of being a mermaid. She was very creative and enjoyed baking, sewing, and making videos for weddings, birthdays, and funerals. All who knew her will miss her quick wit, fierce love, laughter, and infectious smile.

She was preceded in death by her father, Ron; her sons, Craig and Jonah; grandchildren, Hannah Potter, Austin Bissonnett, and Nicolai Schurman.

She is survived by her husband, Mike; her mom, Carol; sons, Gary and Rochelle Potter of Olympia, WA, Joshua and Lacey Steensland of Kennewick, WA, Jay and Kyla Potter of Olympia, WA, Charlie Potter of West Richland, WA; daughters, Shannon and Barron Bissonnett, Justine Potter and Seth Schurman of Denver, Co; brothers, Mark and Shelly Franklin of Walla Walla, WA and Ron and Barbara Franklin of Glendale, AZ; her sisters, Kristy and Craig Sivley of Dayton, WA, Kerri and Melito Ramirez of College Place, WA and Kay and Jack Cosgrove of Walla Walla, WA; In-laws, Leroy and Opal Potter of College Place, Karen and Dave West of Chatteroy, Sheila and Chuck Goforth of Milton-Freewater, Scott Potter and Elisa Cabrales of College Place; fifteen grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be in Walla Walla with a Rosary at 6:00 pm, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at the Chapel of the Herring Funeral Home, and a Memorial Mass at 10:00 am, on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at St Patrick Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, Kathy asked that donations be made in her memory to Chaplaincy Health Care in Richland, WA, through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362. In addition, friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.