Katherine "Kathy" Lee Potter

Katherine “Kathy” Lee Potter passed peacefully on November 13, 2025, in Arlington, Texas, surrounded by the love she spent her entire life so freely giving. Born on February 20, 1948, in Fort Worth to Dewey W. Allen and Dorothy Marilee Eldridge, Kathy grew up with a quiet strength and a generous heart that shaped every chapter of her 77 years.

Kathy was a graduate of Polytechnic High School in Fort Worth, and though her professional journey took her through churches and medical offices, her true vocation was simply caring for people. Whether you met her through St. James/Oak Hill Presbyterian Church, crossed paths with her at work, or were one of the countless young people welcomed—sometimes swept—into her ever-busy, ever-open home, you knew what it felt like to be cared for by her. She listened without judgment, hugged without hesitation, and fed everyone far beyond their capacity.

To her family, she was “Nanny,” a name she wore like a soft, well-loved sweater. Her life revolved around her children—Shane Michael (Kathryn) Potter, Matthew Lynn (Rebecca) Potter, and Holly Lee (William) Harvey—and the grandchildren she adored: Cameron Michael Potter, Brooke Ashley Derbyshire, Rory Lynn Potter, Toby Alton Potter, Sadie Lee Harvey, Hank William Harvey, Harris Josiah Harvey, and Cash Eldridge Harvey. She also cherished her sister, Alice Kay Telford, and kept close in memory her brother, Marshall Kent Allen.

Kathy’s home was as alive as she was—filled with houseplants that somehow survived despite her cats’ best attempts, and anchored by a backyard garden where she and her grandchildren spent countless hours digging, planting, laughing, and talking about life in the way only a grandmother and her grands can. She found joy in travel, especially trips shared with her siblings and their spouses. Seattle’s misty mornings, the Red River’s crisp air (New Mexico), and the serenity of Estes Park (Colorado) were among her treasured places.

But more than any destination, Kathy loved simply being present—being Nanny. She lived out her faith not in grand speeches but in everyday acts of tenderness and generosity. The absence she leaves is immense, but it is softened by knowing how deeply she was loved and how confidently she lived in the assurance of God’s eternal promise.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to the ALS Association, honoring her brother and sister-in-law and supporting those whose lives are affected by the disease.

Kathy Potter gave her love freely, fully, and without pause. And because she did, she lives on—in every garden she planted, every person she comforted, and every heart she made feel at home.