Dorothy Gunlock Potter
July 7, 1941-June 26, 2023
Dorothy Gunlock Potter passed away on June 26, 2023, just shy of her 82nd birthday, after a long battle with dementia.
Dorothy was born on July 7th, 1941, to Alice (Beyer) and Eli Gunlock. She was the youngest of their two children. Her brother, Dan (Danny), adored her, and the two of them were very close. Eli and Alice managed the RV Ranch near Rimini and that’s where Dorothy and Danny grew up. Dorothy became a very talented horsewoman and would often go riding after school, exploring the 10,000 acres that made up the ranch. She and her beloved horse, Brandy, were unstoppable. Together, they competed in shows and rodeos and won many awards and trophies. Later, Dorothy was named High School Rodeo Queen, an honor she often talked about later in life.
When Dorothy was in high school, she was with a group of friends, including her brother. The truck she was riding in was involved in an automobile accident in which she was thrown from the vehicle and badly injured. She was in a coma for three weeks and suffered a traumatic brain injury. It was a long road, but she eventually recovered and was back on her horse again.
Dorothy was blessed with three children, a son (Mark) and two daughters (Kimberly and Jamie). Though she loved her children and was a devoted mother, true love eluded her until later in life when she met Barry Potter. Barry was the one. They fell in love, got married and her family was extended by the addition of Barry’s daughter, Lorelei (Michael) Roberts and her two children, Landara (Brendan) Cottrill and Drake Hosford.
Dorothy worked hard to support her children. She worked for the State of Montana, Dept. of Livestock, for several years. She also worked in home health care and as an assistant to an attorney. When her children grew up and had children of their own, she doted on her grandchildren and loved spending time with them.
Dorothy was a caregiver. After her father passed away, she took it upon herself to look after her mother, calling or stopping by daily to visit, help her with meals and remind her to take her medication. Every weekend, she took her mother grocery shopping. It was truly admirable how dedicated she was to her family. Her love had no bounds.
Dorothy is survived by her children, Mark (Rocel) D’Avis, Kimberly (Dallas) Schaefer and Jamie Houtchens, all of whom reside in Helena, as well as her grandchildren, Tara D’Avis, Eli D’Avis, Jacob Weise, Ashley (Jasper) Weise, Kelsie Schaefer and Kaylee Houtchens and great-grandchildren Malachi and Salem. We would also like to acknowledge Lores Porter of Plains, MT and Judy Gardner of Helena who were like the sisters she never had.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Barry, who passed just three months before her, as well as her brother, Dan, and her granddaughter, Danielle Houtchens, with whom Dorothy was especially close. Perhaps they are all together now, along with her horse, Brandy. I like to think so.
The family would like to thank Renaissance Senior Care for their outstanding level of support and care of both Dorothy and Barry during their final years.
Cremation has taken place and a celebration of Dorothy’s life will be held at a later date. Memorials funds are suggested to be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Mary Garrett says
Dorothy was a sweet gal.