Elizabeth Poteet

Bettie Poteet made her entrance into Heaven on June 13, 2015, surrounded by her family. Bettie was the daughter of Jack and Jean Mann and sister of Joe Taylor Mann. In Paris, France, on April 2, 1952, Bettie married the love of her life, John Poteet, and they recently celebrated 63 years of marriage. The newlyweds moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where John graduated from The University of Tennessee School of Law. John often said that Bettie deserved the same credit he did for completing his law degree. The couple returned to their hometown of Cookeville and Bettie became a devoted wife, loving mother, adoring grandmother and a jubilant great-grandmother who cherished her family and friends. Bettie was a true Southern Belle, an avid collector of beautiful things, a wonderful hostess with a keen eye for detail, a dreamer with a sweet tooth for treats and for life. Her handbag was always filled with M & M's to share. She was a historian and great teller of family stories. This beautiful lady had a compassionate heart for the downtrodden. She provided light in a dark world as she listened with sincere interest to others as they shared with her. Her four grandsons were the apple of her eye and that love continued to grow with the arrival of her two great-granddaughters. She loved to entertain and turned ordinary moments into celebrations. Her gentle hands decorated her home to bring joy to all who entered. Bettie enjoyed bright colors, sunshine, adventures and exploring new places around the world with her beloved John. Bettie and John spent many hours with friends and family entertaining and sharing their home and lives. Bettie and John's greatest treasures were their grandsons and they were delighted when John and Ryan followed in their footsteps as advocates for those who needed a voice. Their youngest grandson Eli was a daily delight to both of them. They relished in watching him grow into a wonderful young man. Bettie's everyday conversations included words like "darling," "precious," "bless their hearts," and "oh law." She made the lives of the people she touched better because they had crossed her path. Bettie is survived by her daughter Beth Anderson, and sons John and Jack Poteet, brother and sister-in-law Joe Taylor and Stoney Mann, grandsons Ryan Dalton, John Dalton (Darcy), Eli Anderson, and great-granddaughters, Callie and Tessa Dalton. Bettie was blessed with three bonus daughters, Jenny Spurlock, Karen Dalton, and Karen Robinson. Bettie was preceded in death by her beloved husband John Poteet and grandson Tanner Dalton. The family has requested "please no flowers or plants." Instead, Bettie would have loved a donation in her memory to either Cookeville Children's Theater, P.O. Box 401, Cookeville, TN 38503 or Rising Above Ministries, P.O. Box 222, Cookeville, TN 38503. Bettie's life will be celebrated with a visitation from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2015, at Hooper-Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home and at a Time of Remembrance at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.