W.R. Potter, a pioneer citizen and retired rural mail carrier of Durham died of cerebral hemorrhage at a singing convention immediately after delivering a public address before the convention group Sunday afternoon.
His death was a shock to the entire community as he was apparently feeling usually well, and those who heard his address said it was the best he ever delivered. Immediately after he had finished speaking and taken his place in the audience, a song was rendered and it was at this time that he suffered his lethal stroke and died almost instantly. His death will be keenly felt in his home community as he was one of Durham's most highly respected and useful citizens.
William Reason Doak Potter was born in Mercer County, Missouri, January 11, 1863 and passed away at Durham April 12, 1936 at the age of 73 years, 3 months and 1 day.
On January 9, 1889 he was married to Freddelia Helen Rathburn and to this union were born 11 children, the mother and eight of the children surviving. Those surviving are Roy R. Potter, of Phoenix, Arizona; Klina Casady, of Cheyenne, Oklahoma, Raymond Potter, Ruby Foster, of Pampa, Texsas; Lilly Noblitt, of Pampa, Texas; Claude Potter of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Helen Roberts of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The deceased are Vera who died in infancy in the state of Missouri; Wheeler, who died in 1904 at the age of 11 years and Chattie, who died in 1919 at the age of 16 years, the latter two being buried in the Fairview cemetery, near Durham. He also leaves one brother and four sisters all of Carmeron, Missouri
In 1900 Mr. Potter came to Oklahoma and has resided in the Durham community of his county ever since. For 25 years he was engaged as a rural mail carrier, retiring three years ago. He had been a member of the Methodist church for 50 years, the Masonic Lodge and the Eastern Star lodge for 40 years, the Odd Fellows for 30 years and the Rebekahs for 10 years.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Durham high school. Rev. Sullins, pastor of the Durham Methodist Church and Rev. W.B. Gilliam of Allan Reed, Texas, a former pastor, delivered the sermons, followed by a personal tribute by T.C. Moore, of Gageby, Texas, a friend of many years. The Eastern Star of Cheyenne, of which he was a member conducted their funeral service after which the Masonic lodge of Arnett, where he held membership, conducted the burial rites at the Fairview cemetery. Music for the occasion was furnished by the Strong City quartet, two members of which had been friends of the family for a period of years.
Cheyenne Star, Cheyenne, OK 16-Apr-1936