GRACE ALICE MACHEN POTTER

Things you often told me, Mother --
God didn't promise skies always blue,
Flowery pathways all our lives through.
God didn't promise sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God DID promise Strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, Light for the way,
Grace for the trails, Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, Undying love...
Rest in eternal peace, Mother.

Note by daughter VirJean Potter Bozarth: Grace prepared most of the following biographical sketch on November 20, 1995. She believed in planning ahead, including the preparation of her own funeral music. Grace died peacefully in her sleep on December 15, 1995. She always told family and friends she wanted to go that way or mowing her much beloved lawn at Chevelly Court in Denton. Funeral services were held December 16, 1995 at Restland Cemetery's Abbey Mausoleum in Dallas where she now rests beside her late husband. Paragraphs separated by a / mark.

GRACE A. POTTER
Grace, the daughter of Mary Jane Marshall and Harvey Lee Machen, was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma on October 4, 1909. When she was two years old, the family moved to Ft. Cobb, Oklahoma. The fort was the one which had protected the settlers from Indians when the state was still a territory. The army later moved to Ft. Sill, which still services the area today. / Grace and her brother Roy began their early education in Ft. Cobb. When Grace finished the 8th grade there, the family moved to Oklahoma City where she enrolled in Classen High School while her older brother Roy entered Oklahoma City University. After high school, Grace graduated, Magna Cum Laude, from Oklahoma City University with a double major in History and Education and a double minor in English and Psychology. / In 1928, Grace married Virgil Potter, who retired from Western Union after 48 years of service as a supervisor in the installation department which covered the entire State of Texas and five other states. During World War II, Virgil was responsible for the communications system between the U. S. and Mexico. / In 1932, the Potters moved to Dallas, TX with their two daughters, VirJean and Barbara. During the war, Grace hand painted, in oil, portraits for Harper Photography Studios. Several years later, she turned her talents to china painting, some pieces of which she sold through a jeweler in Houston. For five years, Grace was the private secretary for the president of an Oklahoma oil company, whose home office was located in Dallas. / Grace was Primary Superintendent in the Urbandale Christian Church. For over ten years, she wrote and directed a yearly program given in lieu of the regular worship service on each Children's Day. During those ten years, Grace taught herself how to play the organ so she could play the music for the children's programs. Toward the end of this endeavor, Grace and Virgil became foster parents in 1967. Starting with a set of twins, the couple had nine cribs full all the time within six months. Before they gave it up five years later, they averaged 12 to 26 full cribs of newborns 24 hours a day. / The Christian Men's Fellowship honored them with a plaque for "Outstanding Service as Foster Parents to Homeless Children." Grace considered this service the couple's most rewarding years during their 61 years of marriage before Virgil died in April 1989. / While doing the foster care, Ruth Eyre, a medical writer for the Dallas Times Herald, wrote an article with a photo of Virgil and Grace on February 9,1969 in the City News Section about their foster children entitled, "Foster Children Find A Friend - Retired Couple Take Care of Diaper Size Tots." / In 1972, the Potters moved to Denton, TX. Grace still painted china, but soon was making rag dolls and more than 200 teddy bears. Each of her bears had a name, a number and a story which she made up to tell her great grandchildren. On November 17, 1985, the Denton Record Chronicle had a write-up about her bears entitled, "The Bear Facts." / In addition to their two daughters, Grace and Virgil had nine grandchildren, Bruce Bozarth, James Bozarth, Radonna Bridges-Mangum, Pamela Mills, Sharon Bozarth, Ann Carroll, Karen Currey, Raymond Bozarth and Edward Bozarth; six great grandchildren, Wayne Lamascus, Shelly Shumate, April Shumate, Ramonica Duarte, David Carroll and Cynthia Bozarth and one great great grandchild, Alyssa Lamascus. Every year, several of these grandchildren spent their summers in the Potter home until Grace moved to the Vintage on June 1, 1992. / Grace loved living in the Vintage, especially enjoying the friendship and fellowship with her fellow residents. She loved playing for her friends their favorite hymns on her organ. / Grace's hope for the future is that her family and friends have God's love to see them through every difficulty. The 23rd Psalm will be their best guide for that. Remember when your prayers are not answered, God's answer may be "No" or "Not right now." Accept His answer graciously. He will guide you if you do your best. Count your blessings, look forward to the changes in your life and put your life in God's hands. "When you reach for the stars you may not quite get one, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either."

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS -
Friday, December 15, 1995 - Page 36 A
POTTER, GRACE ALICE
Survived by daughter, VirJean Bozarth of Houston, nine grandchildren, Bruce Bozarth, James Bozarth, Sharon Bozarth, Raymond Bozarth, Edward Bozarth all of Houston, Radonna Bridges, Ann Carroll, both of Mesquite, Pamela Mills of Kemp and Karen Currey of Hughes Springs, Texas; six great grandchildren, Wayne Lamascus, Shelly Shumate, Arpil Shumate all of Kemp, Ramonica Duarte, David Carroll, both of Mesquite, Cynthia Bozarth of Houston, one great great granddaughter, Alyssa Lamascus of Kemp; special friend Kathryn Abernathy of Denton; several nieces and nephews. -- Restland - Greenville Ave. at Restland Rd. - 238-7111