Obituary of Bruce Poteet

Bruce Poteet, age 67, of Idabel, passed away on Saturday, July 30, 2011 at Texarkana, TX. He was born on May 14, 1944 in McAlester, OK, the son of Elmer and Evelyn Barker Poteet. Bruce attended Idabel Schools until his freshman year, when he was accepted at the Oklahoma Military Academy in Claremore, OK. While at the Academy, Bruce earned his high school diploma, completed a junior college program, and achieved one of the Academy’s highest honors -- an Outstanding Cadet Identification Disk. During his days at the Military Academy, he also traveled with the military band, playing the drums and marching in parades in New York, New Orleans, and other locations across the country. After graduation, he attended Northeastern Oklahoma State University where he received his Bachelor’s degree. He married Pat Ward on June 20, 1965 in Idabel. The couple recently celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary. Bruce worked several years in the family-owned business, Otasco. He and Pat also owned and operated the Big-T Tastee Freeze in Idabel. Bruce began working for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services in 1990 as a Social Worker. In 2004, he began his current position as Information Systems Services Coordinator. Amateur radio was a lifelong passion of Bruce’s. He was heavily involved in the local Amateur Radio Club, and worked closely with emergency-response services to provide communications in remote areas of Southeastern Oklahoma. Bruce was also a very talented teacher, and enjoyed sharing his skills with students, both in technology classes at KTC, and through OK Self-Defense Act classes. He was a longtime friend and faithful member of the First Christian Church in Idabel, a church his parents were instrumental in founding. Bruce was a devoted family man, and was very proud of his family and their accomplishments. He was preceded in death by both of his parents; a brother, Bob Poteet, and an aunt, LaVesta Green. Bruce leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Pat Poteet of Idabel; a son, Bruce Charles Poteet II Of San Antonio, TX; a daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Jeff Crew of Frisco, TX; grandchildren, Brittany, Kenzie, and Tyler Crew; as well as several nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at the White Family Chapel in Idabel with Rev. Paul Redden officiating. Interment will follow at Denison Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at the funeral home.