VAN ALVIN POTTS, 78, of Green Forest, died at his home with his family by his side on July 31. He was born Feb. 17, 1930, at Denver, Ark., to the late John Troy Potts and Alta Braswell Potts.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1949 to 1951 during the Korean Conflict. He worked as a service medic and received a Korean and United Nations Service Medal.

He married the love of his life, Shirley Roberts, in 1954, and they settled in Sweet Home, Ore. Mr. Potts worked as an electrician for Willamette Industries in Foster, Ore. In 1992 he and his wife moved back to Carroll County to enjoy their retirement.

An avid musician, he was known for his singing and unique abilities to build different instruments. After moving to Green Forest, he enjoyed playing and singing with the Mattox House and Cattleman's Steakhouse band, and he became one of the local favorites. He liked to go fishing and hunting in his spare time. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a devoted husband, father and friend.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Potts, of the home; three sons, Van Stephen Potts, of Green Forest, Roger Dale Potts, of Corvallis, Ore., and Troy Dewayne Potts and wife Patricia, of North Powder, Ore.; a daughter, Sophia Christine Allen and husband Ray, of Lebanon, Ore.; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; three sisters, Shirley Mae Bramlett, of Anchorage, Alaska, Norma Lee Johnson, of Jacksonville, Fla., and Lois Marie Stewart, of Orlando, Fla.

He was preceeded in death by his parents, a sister, Alma Louise Gibson, and infant brother John Alfred Potts.

A celebration of life service was held Monday, Aug., 4, at 2 p.m. at Smith Family Funeral Home with Bob Morrison and Royce Collier officiating. Burial followed in Denver Cemetery.

On-line condolences may be left at smithfamilyfuneralhome.net.