ALBERT WILLIAM "AL" POTTS

ALBERT "AL" WILLIAM POTTS, MASTER SERGEANT, went to his heavenly home on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, after a courageous battle with cancer from Agent Orange, surrounded by his loved ones. Born April 20, 1946, in Fort Wayne, he was a son of the late Betty Greve and Wilbert Potts. He was a 1964 graduate of Central High School and worked at General Electric before enlisting in the U.S.M.C. He served with U.S.M.C. FOX 2/3/3 during the Vietnam War and was mentioned in "The First Hill Fights Battle of Khe Sanh" book. He was a member of the V.F.W. and the American Legion Post 157. The saying, "Once a Marine, always a Marine," was true to Al's life. He proudly served for 27 years and retired as a Master Sergeant in 1993. He stayed very close to the brave men that he called brothers. Al retired from Riverside High School due to his illness. He enjoyed reading and watching history films, John Wayne films, game shows, and old movie classics. Al loved animals; he rescued dogs and cats, and fed wild birds. He spent days fishing at the lake cottage in Orland, Ind. while visiting his family. He was so proud of the family bowling league and always asked for the scores. His grandchildren grew up with fun times with "Grandpa Al" at camp in Holiday Camplands. Missing him dearly is his wife, Edyie Lefevre Potts. He was a wonderful father figure to Steve and Beth Bash, Douglas Hassler and Connie Hassler. His pride, joy and reason to live were his five grandchildren, Braeden, Camden and Lauren Bash, and Benjamen and Jonathan Hassler. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Verna Vargo; and his faithful companion, Cricket. "Smiley" as his family nicknamed him, he was a dear brother to Susan and Doug Bedra, Donald (Lum) and Debra Edwards, Elaine and James Mowan, and Joan Potts, all of Indiana, and Wilbert Jr. and Kathy Potts of Virginia; sisters-in-law, Judith and Joe Yekyll and Cathy Jo and Dave Kardish of Ellwood City. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and their children. He was also preceded in death by the man he called his dad, Donald Edwards; baby sister, Tammy Edwards; brothers, Merle and Walter Potts; first wife of 33 years, Sara Kay McClearn, and her parents, Sara and Kenneth McClearn. The family wishes to thank the Hillman Cancer Center and the teams of Dr. Ohr and Dr. Bartlett. They'd also like to thank Amedisys Hospice Angels, Kathy, Amy, Peggy and Michelle, Pastor Dave, and their neighbors and friends for food and care of Cricket. Funeral ceremony is 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, at Boylan Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Connoquenessing Township, 856 Evans City Road, Renfrew, (PA 16053). Where the family will welcome friends from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. The funeral ceremony will be followed by full military honors and a committal service. Al's ashes will be buried at family's convenience. Al was kind and generous. In loving memory of him, pay it forward, buy a stranger a meal, drop of a bag of food to a shelter---that is what he would have wanted. Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com