Jason Blaine Potter

An irreplaceable person left this earthly life to join the circle around the Heavenly Campfire.  The circle was enlarged, he took his place, surrounded by familiar and loved faces, and found that he was not a stranger there.

Jason Blaine Potter (aka Foofer) age 46, unexpectedly passed away November 9th, 2023 due to complications during heart surgery.

Born August 10th, 1977 to Blaine and LeaAnn Potter, Jason lived his energetic young life with his two brothers Jeff and Justin, along with beloved grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends nearby.  Jason attended schools in the Bear River Valley and was a 1995 Bear River High School graduate.  

Jason and Marci were high school sweethearts.  They were married September 12th, 1997.  Five years later, on September 14th, 2002 they were sealed in the Logan, Utah LDS temple.   Marci and Jason’s deep love for each other has stood the test of time and their romance continued throughout their marriage and into the day of his passing where his last wakeful moment included Marci’s name and a loving endearment.  

At the time of his passing, Jason worked at the Space and Dynamics Lab at Utah State University.  None of us can really describe what he did there, but we know that he loved his job and regretted the days when his health didn’t allow him to go to work. Even more, he loved the people he worked with and they became like family to him.  Their love and support has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated.

Jason was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He served in many capacities during his life, but hands down his favorite church service was given to toddlers and young children during his nursery leader calling with Marci in the ward primary.  These children were important to him.  He showered them with attention doing his best to win them over, which he eventually did.

Putting together a remembrance of someone’s life is an unthinkable task.  And with a guy like Jason, how to choose, summarize, or explain the bigness of his soul, what he was like, why you loved him, the impact he had- is impossible because he was just that wonderful.  But when family gathers at a time like this, certain themes come up that we all say, Yes!  That was Jason!  That is what we loved and will always remember about him!

The first thing was his only slightly hidden competitiveness. We say hidden because Jason wasn’t a showboat or a braggart, but he did like to win and he would figure out a way to do it without flaunting it.  He didn’t quit until the activity was over, and even then he’d plot a way to win.  He could be cutthroat, even in his family.  Many a family black elephant prize game ended in near tears on the loser’s  part and Jason getting exactly the gift he wanted.  You never knew how he had pulled it off, but in his quiet way, you knew that you had been had. 

He was the same way with cards.  He loved all kinds of card games, but especially Black Jack.   New Year’s Eves often consisted of card games with Jason being the dealer and everyone else subbing in and out.   After everyone else was tired of playing, Jason was always up for another game, which he would usually win.  For years some of our family went on a yearly trip to Elko Nevada for taxes, but the casino was the bigger draw for Jason and Grandma Z.  He shared her passion for a good game of chance, she on the slots and him at a card table.  The rest of us would soon tire and be ready to leave, but Jason would always say, “I’ll stay with you Grandma”.  He was the only one that could hang with her when it came to the casino.  

Along these lines was his position as the Bookie with the Super Bowl Squares game.  Every year he made up the board, called for your squares and ran the board during the game.   It was fun to watch Jason keep track of the stats as the game progressed and to see his excitement as it got closer to determining each winner.  It was a tradition that made it  even more exciting and again, added the element of competition with some skin in the game.

Jason was a true sports fan who had a life-long love for baseball.  He started in T-ball as a little boy and later coached his son Bryson all through Little League.  He continued supporting Easton and Holden in their growth in the game and his love for baseball never left his life.  Those of you who know Jason through baseball will understand this. Many of you were coached by him, or you coached with him or you cheered for the same team as he did.  Jason loved the boys on his teams and he loved the dedication, enthusiasm and mutual trust and friendship those he coached with had.  A baseball highlight  for him was coaching a team with his brother-in-law, Wes.  Jason was also an avid Utah Utes and San Francisco Giants fan.  

Always up for an adventure, Jason loved fishing, float-tubing and pheasant hunting.  In fact, he never missed an opening day of the pheasant hunt, including the one just a week or so before his surgery.  He actually went twice on opening day.  Once in the morning with his dad, Wes, Holden and Hoyt, and again in the afternoon with Marci and Holden.  He had to get his hunting in because he knew that he wouldn’t be able to hold a gun for a while. Everyone is so grateful for this good memory.

Jason loved sitting by a campfire, whether in the backyard or at elk or deer camp.  He looked forward to deer camp and his Grandma Diane’s famous biscuits and gravy.  He loved packing into the Uintah’s for the elk hunt and sharing that experience with the many good men that made up the elk hunting crew.  He loved golf with his dad and enjoyed many Wednesday Men’s Nights with his buddies James and Mike, and also the weekends golfing with his boys.  

It has to be recognized how much Jason loved his nieces and nephews.  He put real effort into making sure that he had a relationship with each one and that they knew that he thought they were important.  There were those that were easy to win over and some who took patience.  He played with them, talked to them and did everything to win them over.  Sooner or later he was everyone’s favorite uncle.  But Jason wasn’t just an uncle, he was a constant in the lives of these kids!  He was always game to go on an adventure!  But he didn’t just go, he taught the kids how to do things.  From how to choose the right bait for the type of fish and conditions, to how to hold a fish for that brag-worthy photo.  No matter the activity Jason patiently and lovingly talked, taught and mentored so that they learned how to do the same cool things, just like their Uncle Jason.

Jason was genuinely kind!  He really did take the opportunity to always be kind, never without a smile and genuine care for people.  He had friends everywhere and his friends felt welcomed and accepted by him.  It wasn’t hard to know that he liked you, especially if he teased you.  He really was one of the best guys around.

Yes, Jason did a lot of things, had a lot of great adventures, made a difference in the world, loved people and was loved by so many people.  But he would tell you that his biggest accomplishments are within the walls of his home in the form of Marci, whom he loved and told his nurse that “she is a sweetheart”,  in the beautiful and fulfilling life that they created together and in their sons Bryson, Easton and Holden.  Jason’s greatest treasures were always at home.

Jason, there is so much more that we could say, if our hearts could stand it, but at some point we have to wrap this up.  But not a stop-  just a pause for now.  You know us.  We will still gather often and you will be a part of every story and every memory.  Your name will always be spoken, and we will remember who you were and how important you will always be to us.   And some day, each of us will find our own spot around that Heavenly Campfire with you- and it will feel like home.

Love you BIG Potter!!!

Marci, Bryson, Easton and Holden Potter

Mom and Dad, Jeff and Justin Potter

Jake & Susan Larson, Jamie & Lynn Staheli, Wes & Mallory Larson

Shelley and Mike Olsen 

Kelsey & Shawn Croney, Ashley & Trevor Wright, Darcey & Robert Jensen, 

Charlyn & Jack Peterson, Shayna & Wade Marshall

Grandma Diane and Grandma Z

And all your many nieces and nephews

Services will be held on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at Noon at the Tremonton South Stake Center (1150 South Tremont Street, Tremonton). Viewings will be held on Wednesday, November 15th, 2023  from 6-8 P.M. at Rogers and Taylor Funeral Home (111 North 100 East, Tremonton) and prior to the service at the church from 10-11:30 A.M.  Interment will take place at the East Garland Cemetery. The service will be livestreamed and be accessed below.

DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT PAN THE CROWD AND THE CAMERA IS FIXED UPON THE PULPIT. WE WILL TRY AND LIVESTREAM THE FUNERAL SERVICE. IF WE ARE UNABLE TO DO SO, DUE TO THE INTERNET SERVICE AT THE CHURCH, A RECORDING WILL BE UPLOADED WITHIN 24-48 HOURS AFTER THE SERVICE.