Nersis "Dick" Potoukian

1924 - 2022

Nersis "Dick" Potoukian
December 31, 1924 - August 3, 2022
Parlier, California - Nersis "Dick" Potoukian was born on December 31, 1924 in Los Angeles, California. He went to be with the Lord on August 3, 2022. He was 97 years old. He was the youngest of three boys born to Virginia and Mike Potoukian. When Dick was young, the family moved from Los Angeles to the Reedley, California area for a short time and then settled in Parlier, California on the farm purchased by his parents. Dick attended grammar school in Reedley and Parlier and graduated from Parlier High School in 1943. Following high school and during World War II, while following the lead of his two older brothers who were already in the military, Dick enlisted in the US Navy. After the War, Dick moved back to Los Angeles and pursued a career at the Twentieth Century Fox Studio as a background artist. He was a very talented artist and worked on several motion pictures during this period. He was very proud of that time in his life and was always ready to tell stories about the famous Hollywood actors and actresses that he met and mingled with. After a few years, Dick returned to Parlier and the farm. He worked various jobs and ultimately returned to Los Angeles where he would live the next twenty-five years. While in Los Angeles, Dick became a landscaper/gardener and carpenter. He enjoyed working outside, building things and working for himself. He also enjoyed his bachelor life, meeting people, going to the horse races with his cousins and having a lot of fun! In the early 1980's, through a mutual friend, Dick met Maureen and the couple were married in 1984. The couple were married for 30 years until Maureen's passing in 2014. Dick missed Maureen a great deal and often talked about their life together. He enjoyed Maureen's family, including her adult children and young grandchildren. Following Maureen's passing, Dick moved back to the family farm in Parlier where he would live the next seven years. You could always find Dick outside with a garden hose in his hand watering the lawn and landscape, usually shirtless, in shorts and a cigar in his mouth. Since he was a young man, Dick smoked a cigar every day and would not go anywhere without one. Dick was a huge animal lover. He had a couple of poodles, a couple of stray dogs Sunday and Tuesday and a few cats to keep him company. Dick would often be found in Selma hanging out with his buddies. He enjoyed going to Las Vegas and the local casinos with friends and neighbors as well as the family trips to Hawaii and the Caribbean. Dick enjoyed life. He never took it for granted. When asked how he was doing, Dick would often reply "happy to be alive." Dick was a believer in the Lord. He prayed often and would always count his blessings, something his mother instilled in all three boys when they were young. About a year ago, at the age of 96, Dick required additional care and moved to Sierra View Residential assisted living where he lived until his passing. Dick is preceded in death by his wife, Maureen Potoukian, his parents, Mike and Virginia Potoukian, his brothers Leo Potoukian and Vernon Pattigan and his wife Marilyn and niece Evelynn Mason and her husband Louis. He is survived by his nephews, Mark Pattigan and his wife Debbie and Dale Pattigan and his wife DeeNeece. He is also survived by a great-nephew, two great-nieces and a great-great-nephew. We would like to express our appreciation to the entire staff at Sierra View Residential in Reedley, California for the warm, compassionate and understanding care they gave to Dick. A Viewing will be held at Wallin's Parlier Funeral Home on Friday, August 12, 2022, from 11:00 am to 11:30 am, followed by interment at the Mendocino Cemetery in Parlier at 12:00 pm.