Obituary for Bradley Stephen Potter
Bradley Stephen Potter, 47, walked on, on October 5, 2022. Brad was born on February 15, 1975 in Washington D.C. to Mary Marie Wesley. His grandparents were Joseph (a tribal member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) and Irene Wesley (a tribal member of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians). Brad graduated from Athens High School and attended Kellogg Community College, studying to become a paralegal assistant or game warden, but instead became a Journeyman Ironworker and qualified rigger in Michigan Ironworkers Local 25. He later enrolled in Wayne County Community College in Detroit to further develop his welding skills.
Brad enjoyed crossbow hunting, stock car racing, National Geographic media events, growing medicinal plants and the music of Pink Floyd. He was an accomplished author with volumes of handwritten notebooks and had a photographic memory. He could hold his own on the TV program “Jeopardy”, which he enjoyed with his aunt Joy and uncle Stephen Spurr, Brad’s caregivers during the period of his treatment for pancreatic cancer. During his illness, Brad continued to enjoy family vacations, cultural events, museums, parks, and would often go fishing at the Lake St. Clair pier. He particularly enjoyed cruising the neighborhoods of Detroit, where he would occasionally spot coyotes. Most of Brad’s lifelong friends lived in Battle Creek or Athens. He took great pleasure in taking their children shopping, surprising them with Christmas gifts, or teaching them outdoor skills that he had learned from his grandmother Irene. Once Brad took a carload of his friends’ children to Chicago for a tour of Shedd Aquarium. Brad and his mother Mary valued nature, animals and environmental responsibility highly.
Brad was predeceased by his sister Sarah Joslyn, his mother Mary Wesley, his aunt Laura and uncle Joe, and his grandparents Joseph and Irene Wesley. He is survived by his brother Robbie.
A Celebration of Brad’s life will be held on Saturday, November 12th from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. at Baxter Funeral Home Dinner Hall, 375 West Dickman Road, Battle Creek, MI 49037
We would ask that donations on Brad’s behalf be sent to the Athens Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 205, Athens, MI 49011.
Arrangements by the Baxter Funeral & Cremation Service. 269-788-9800 www.baxterfuneral.com
Brad enjoyed crossbow hunting, stock car racing, National Geographic media events, growing medicinal plants and the music of Pink Floyd. He was an accomplished author with volumes of handwritten notebooks and had a photographic memory. He could hold his own on the TV program “Jeopardy”, which he enjoyed with his aunt Joy and uncle Stephen Spurr, Brad’s caregivers during the period of his treatment for pancreatic cancer. During his illness, Brad continued to enjoy family vacations, cultural events, museums, parks, and would often go fishing at the Lake St. Clair pier. He particularly enjoyed cruising the neighborhoods of Detroit, where he would occasionally spot coyotes. Most of Brad’s lifelong friends lived in Battle Creek or Athens. He took great pleasure in taking their children shopping, surprising them with Christmas gifts, or teaching them outdoor skills that he had learned from his grandmother Irene. Once Brad took a carload of his friends’ children to Chicago for a tour of Shedd Aquarium. Brad and his mother Mary valued nature, animals and environmental responsibility highly.
Brad was predeceased by his sister Sarah Joslyn, his mother Mary Wesley, his aunt Laura and uncle Joe, and his grandparents Joseph and Irene Wesley. He is survived by his brother Robbie.
A Celebration of Brad’s life will be held on Saturday, November 12th from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. at Baxter Funeral Home Dinner Hall, 375 West Dickman Road, Battle Creek, MI 49037
We would ask that donations on Brad’s behalf be sent to the Athens Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 205, Athens, MI 49011.
Arrangements by the Baxter Funeral & Cremation Service. 269-788-9800 www.baxterfuneral.com