Betty J. Potter, 81, of Augusta, passed away peacefully Sept. 8 at MaineGeneral Medical Center. She was born in Unity on June 17, 1931, the daughter of Harold F. Jones and Nancy (Walton) Jones. She attended schools there as well as South Portland and Jefferson, graduating from Cony High School in 1949.
She was a career secretary/bookkeeper, already working in a local attorney’s office while still in high school. She continued to use those skills on a part-time basis while raising her four children in North Whitefield. During those years she was very active in organizing community fundraising events such as the Knights of Columbus Game Suppers, PTA minstrel shows, Ladies’ Auxiliary/Fire Department suppers, etc. She retired from state service in 1997, after 20 years in the Maine Public Utilities Commission, serving the last 10 years as administrative secretary to the Chairman of the Commission.
She enjoyed travel, playing piano and organ, and family gatherings.
She loved making birthday cakes, celebrating Christmas, holding new babies, and keeping in touch with her many close friends.
She is predeceased by her parents; stepmother, Sue Miller Jones; brother, Harold L. Jones; and son, Mark L. Nichols; spouses, Willis Nichols, and James H. Potter; and beloved dog, Nikki.
She is survived by her children, David L. Nichols and wife Charlotte of Lanham, Md., Timothy H. Nichols of Ijamsville, Md. and companion Betsy Keating, and Jill Bickford West and husband Robert West of Whitefield; daughter-in-law, Sharon Nichols and companion David Libby of Pittston: step-daughter, Cindy Duguay and husband Mark Duguay of Turner; grandchildren, Westley Nichols of Pittsburg, Penn., Brooke Nichols of Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Hilary (Nichols) Belanger and husband Brian Belanger of Pittston, Jeff Bickford and wife Amy Augusta, Joshua Bickford and wife Stephanie of Brewer, and Justine Bickford of Whitefield, and Colleen Libby; great-grandchildren, Lily, Gavin, Roy, Nicholas, Judah, Henry, Jonas, and Ben; and a niece and nephew.
Memorial service for family and friends 2 p.m., Fri., Sept. 14 at Calvary Bible Baptist Church, Rt. 126, North Whitefield, following a brief family internment service at Maine Veteran’s Cemetery in Augusta.
Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.directcremationofmaine.com.
Arrangements are under the care of Direct Cremation of Maine, 182 Waldo Ave., Belfast.
