JANUARY 12, 1930 – SEPTEMBER 25, 2024
Anna Marlene Cooper Potasnik, went home to Jesus on Sept. 25, 2024. She was born at the home place in Nebo, West Virginia, on January 12, 1930, the 12th of 13 children born to the late Rebecca Mollohan Cooper and Lambert Myers Cooper.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband and the father of her children, Ted Potasnik; her son, John Cooper Potasnik; and her second husband, Robert Arnold Tanner, as well as her brothers, Basil, Harry and Brooks Cooper, sisters Jessie Thompson, Gertie Hardway, Dottie Brannon, Bina Hicks, Margaret Shearer, Elza Vaughan and Elva Browning and two infant sisters, Sylvia and Georgia.
She is survived by her daughter Becky and son-in-law Jim Proctor; daughter-in-law Sandy Potasnik; granddaughters, Quincy Potasnik (Brad Cable) and Amber Phillips; great-granddaughters, Sparrow Potasnik-Reiter and Ava Phillips and several beloved nieces and nephews; and special friend, Eloise Bullard.
Marlene was voted Miss Clay County High School in her sophomore year and graduated in 1947. She and Ted married in 1949, and lived in his hometown of Widen. Son John was born in 1952. They moved to Nebo in 1953 to care for her aging parents and she remained there throughout most of her lifetime.
Marlene worked as a relief postal clerk and store clerk at Nebo for Wavie Starcher, her first cousin, until she became employed by Clay County Schools, first as a school cook and for the remainder of her career as a teacher aide at Nebo and later at Ivydale Elementary. She was a 4-H leader and loved helping children with their 4-H projects.
When Nebo had its yearly Christmas program, Marlene wrote many original poems for the children to recite, custom made to fit the child’s personality. More than once, Marlene surprised and delighted the audience wearing a ball cap, flannel shirt, boots and bib overalls to recite “Just Before Christmas Be as Good as You Can Be.”
She had a gift for numbers and organization and would have made an excellent accountant. She was an amazing record keeper and loved working with her friends at Clay County Historical Society preserving the past for future generations.
Her salvation gave her great joy. She was a long time member of Unity Gospel Tabernacle and was secretary-treasurer for 22 years. Her church family was precious to her.
Marlene inherited her mother’s talent for sewing. She delighted in crafting, crochet, jigsaw puzzles, stamp collecting, board games and, at one time, collecting and mounting insects. She loved a good yard sale and rarely left the house without her earrings.
She worked hard all her life. She reminisced about working alongside her dad in the hayfield, riding the plow horse to Ezra Metheney’s grist mill for their weekly supply of corn meal, about Christmas mornings, school days, neighbors and friends.
In 2012, she began spending the winter months in Florida where she inspired everyone she met with her energy, her smile and her Christian witness. Until a few months ago, she was active attending her daughter’s Christ-centered chair yoga class, sewing with her friend Grace, walking in the neighborhood and volunteering at the church thrift store.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at Unity Gospel Tabernacle, Route 16, Nebo, WV.
In lieu of flowers, Marlene asked that you make a donation to Hospice Care, 1606 Kana. wha Blvd. W, Charleston, WV 25387.
