Donald Lee Poteet Jr.

Donald Lee Poteet, Jr., passed from this life on Friday, February 10, 2023, at the age of 76. Donald, “Papa Po,” was born January 24, 1947, in Pawnee, Oklahoma to Donald and Delores Poteet. He attended Pawnee Public Schools and graduated from Pawnee High School in 1965. After graduation, he attended Oklahoma State University where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Business. Donald married his high school sweetheart, Janie LeForce, on May 25, 1968, in the Pawnee First Baptist Church. Following graduation from OSU in 1969, he served in the U.S. Army and was a member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade where he was deployed to Vietnam in April of 1970. He returned home to civilian life the following year in April of 1971. Donald then attended the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science before returning home to Pawnee to begin working at the family business, The Poteet Funeral Home, where he worked taking care of his community and their families for 44 years. During that time, he and Janie became first-time parents to Brandon Lee Poteet on March 28, 1974. Then on May 25, 1977, they were blessed again with Brett Alan Poteet. On January 14, 1986, a tragic car accident took the life of his wife Janie and son, Brett. On February 14, 1991, Donald married Rheadon (Beaver) Brien, and they spent years working together at the Poteet Funeral Home.

Donald was an avid OSU fan and spent many Saturdays at T. Boone Pickens Stadium cheering for his Cowboys with his son Brandon and his grandkids, as well as many basketball games in Gallagher-Iba Arena. He also loved race walking with his close friends and was active in the local Lions Club, where he spent many years parking cars for Pawnee Black Bear football games and dyeing eggs for the annual Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt. Donald was a charter member of the Pawnee VFW and was passionate about serving with his fellow veterans. He was also a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Pawnee. Donald loved Pawnee and served his community throughout his life, enjoying the friendship of many. He was proud to be a Black Bear.

Donald Poteet, Jr., is survived by his son, Brandon, and his daughter-in-law, Kacee, and his four grandchildren: Janie Brooke, Jacob Brett, Molly Grace, and Mattie Blair; siblings Larry Poteet and wife Beverly, and Autumn Lansing; stepchildren, Misty Stossel and Stace Brien and their families. Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Donald Lee and Delores, his wife Janie Poteet and son Brett, and wife Rheadon.