From the Bakersfield Californian: Donald Lee Poteet, April 30, 1950 - March 13, 2013

On Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 4:45 p.m., the lord took a great friend, father, grandfather, and loving partner from his earthly home to his forever home.  Don had gone to Los Angeles to have hip replacement surgery.  He came through the surgery with great results.  We lost him in the recovery room.

Don was born in Bakersfield on April 30, 1950.  He married Charlotte Lasater in March 1971 and they had one son, Donny Poteet, born in February 1976.

In August 1988, Don started dating his life partner, Janet Kinney-Poteet. They have shared an amazing, one-of-a-kind life together for 23 years. Janet was Don’s devoted partner in life and business. Janet gave Don the love, laughter and balance he needed in his life. They were a great team and Janet will cherish their many memories forever. For those who knew Don and Janet well, they knew that Janet was “Shortie" unless Don was irritated, then she was “The Blond"!

Don was a man who worked hard and played even harder. He started operating OK Sheet Metal in 1981 when his father passed away and grew the business tenfold in two years. He sold OK Sheet Metal and retired in 1998 and started an HVAC business in Idaho with Dave Riley. Next he started buying property and building metal buildings as rental investments in Idaho. Don loved a challenge whether he was designing the AC layout on a big house or building a race motor.

Playing in the sand was one of Don's most favorite things! He started running sand buggies at Pismo Dunes in the early 1970's. He moved on to 3 wheelers, then 4 wheelers. He loved racing “competition hill” at the Dumont Dunes in his Polaris XP, which was, of course,  "bone stock”! Thrown into the mix were Harley Davidsons. It was no secret that Don could make anything with wheels fast. Better known as “Poflo Fast”!  He loved competition and really enjoyed pulling up to the starting line at the hill with riders 30 years his junior and 120 plus pounds lighter and leaving them in the dust! When he pulled off his helmet the young guys couldn't believe they just got beat by an old fat guy! He loved it!

In the 1980’s he enjoyed the annual hunting trips to Meeker, CO with a group of guys. For many years he hunted on Rankin Ranch with F Troop and Tejon Ranch, but his hips started giving him pain. His “big game" hunting became shooting squirrels in CJ Watson’s and Beechino's cattle ranches with Joe Taylor and Corky Garside. He considered this target ractice!

Don loved the panhandle of ldaho and bought a second home on the Spokane River in Couer d’Alene. Over the years Don and Janet made many wonderful friends in Idaho. Don started spending 5 or 6 months each summer and finally became an Idaho resident. Fishing became another hobby for Don. He was so content at peace there.

Don was a great man and mentor. He was loyal to his friends and was always there when you needed him. He was a man of integrity and determination. His Word is his legacy. He had a true zest for life and never took a single day for granted. He was blessed with a lot of friends and enjoyed telling corney jokes; he had a great sense of humor. He lived by his mantra “You are never too old to enjoy your childhood".

Don was preceded in death by his father Will “Bill” Poteet and mother Orpha Poteet; Left to grieve Don’s passing is his partner, Janet Kinney-Poteet; son Donny; granddaughter Jewlia; grandson Christopher; “sister” Diane Matthews; best friend Randy Hubble; “special girl” Miss Nikki and many, many friends.

At Don's request there will not be a funeral and he was cremated.