H. Forest Potter

                 H. Forest Potter, age 87, a lifetime resident of Rockland Township, died Friday afternoon, June 7, 2024 at The Caring Place in Franklin, following an illness.

                He was born in Rockland on June 16, 1936 to the late Howard T. and Hilda M. (Lewis) Potter. 

                He attended schools in Rockland and Emlenton and was a 1956 graduate of Cranberry High School. 

                Forest was a lifetime member of the Rockland Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the Clarion County Farmer's Association, a former Rockland Township supervisor, and longtime caretaker of the Rockland Cemetery where he served as a board member for 30 years.    

                He was a member of the Rockland United Methodist Church and served as a trustee. 

                Forest enjoyed hunting and bicycling.  He and his son Jim rode their bikes from Rockland to Quebec, Canada.  He also enjoyed watching television. 

                In his early years, he was employed by CPT, Slye's International Harvester, drove school bus for Cranberry Schools, and operated his dairy farm in Rockland. 

                He was married in Franklin on March 14, 1958 to the former Pearl E. Manross, and she survives.  Also surviving are their three children:  Laurie Potter of Rockland, James Potter and his wife Paula of Rockland, and Catharine Smith and her husband Carl of Aberdeen, Ohio; a foster son, Duane Botelho of Rockland; two grandchildren, Brett Smith and wife Amanda and their daughter Autumn of Dover, Kentucky, and Traci Potter and her children Gavin, Jacob, and Logan. Also surviving are his step-grandchildren, Nicky Mathews and husband Dave and their children Abby, Evan, and Sophie; Eric Mathews and his companion Monica and their children Emmett and Memphis; and Sara Gordon and husband Jim and their son Ryan.  Forest is also survived by his niece Jacqueline Potter Laing, and his nephew, Jeffrey Potter. 

                In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Alice C. Potter; his brother, Howard M. Potter; and his twin brother, James Foster Potter. 

                Visitation will be held Tuesday (June 11) from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in Hile-Best Funeral Home, 2781 Rte. 257 in Seneca, where a funeral service will follow Tuesday at 1 p.m.  Rev. Tom Phillips, pastor of Rockland United Methodist Church, will officiate.  Interment will be in Rockland Cemetery in Kennerdell. 

                The family would like to extend a thank you to the staff at UPMC Northwest, The Caring Place, and AseraCare Hospice, for their care and compassion. 

               In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to World Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 948, Marion IN  46952 (include on memo line: for Laurie Potter's ministry) - or online at www.wgm.org/potter; or to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

                To express online condolences to Forest's family, visit www.hilebest.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of H. Forest Potter, please visit our floral store.