Max Lyle Potter, 79, of Ketchum, passed away Friday, Dec. 24, 2010, in Boise. He was born Dec. 19, 1931, in Hagerman, Idaho, the son of Lyle Edward Potter and Mary Ellen Penfold Potter. Max was raised in Hagerman and graduated from Hagerman High School in 1950. He attended the Albion Normal College and later Boise Junior College. He spent his younger years working on his family's ranches at Deer Creek and Greenhorn.
On Sept. 6, 1956, he married Mary May Neyman in Elko, Nev. Max worked for Morrison-Knudsen for one year, then he and Mary May settled in Ketchum where they raised three children. They owned and operated Sun Valley Motors for more than 30 years. Max introduced the Jeep brand to the Wood River Valley and sponsored numerous Jeep races at Elkhorn. He was a member of Rotary International and was instrumental in the military aircraft flyovers on Memorial Day. He spent many years on the Ketchum Cemetery District board of trustees and served as chairman of the board.
Max loved to golf, garden, travel, fish and visit, and he was very well-read. At age 50, he took up the violin with his granddaughters. He also enjoyed pheasant hunting with his friend, Neil Schoenenberger. Max was an avid airplane enthusiast and antique car collector, and enjoyed cooking. He was known for his famous prime rib roast prepared for holidays. He loved his dogs and he especially liked having coffee at the Buffalo Café and Perry's with the "Ketchum Underground," where they were able to solve the world's problems.
Max will be remembered as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary May Potter of Ketchum and their children, Melody (Gordon) Flade of Hailey, Ellen (Larry) Moore of Boise and Mark Neyman Potter of Ketchum. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Angie (Adam) Erickson, Mandy (John) Ricks, Fallon (Morgan) Simmons, Mitzi (Tony) Samson, Joshua (Anne) Flade, Spencer Flade and Madeline Flade; four great-grandchildren; one sister, Thelma Marsh and one sister-in-law, Margaret Potter; and many extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Eunice Morris and his brother, Von Potter.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 30, in the Sun Valley LDS Chapel, Sun Valley Road, Sun Valley, Idaho, with Bishop Bryan Evans officiating. A viewing will begin one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in the Ketchum Cemetery. Max's family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in his name to Blaine County Senior Center, Box 28, Hailey, ID 83333. Arrangements are under the care of Farnsworth Mortuary of Jerome.
