Marla Marie Percell Potts

Obituary Marla Marie (Percell) Potts (July 30, 1944 – October 22, 2016) Marla Marie (Percell) Potts, 72, of Lamoni, IA and Newnan, GA passed away peacefully from pancreatic cancer on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at her home in Newnan. Over the past several years Marla enjoyed her “snowbird” status - traveling between her homes in Iowa and Georgia. She was an active and beloved member of Trinity Christian Church in Decatur, Iowa and Southwest Christian Church in Newnan, GA. Marla loved to live her faith by serving others, and was attracted to jobs that allowed her to help people. In her working years, she served as a coordinator for an “at-risk” youth shelter, acted as a court appointed supervisor for visits between parents and their children, and worked on several state-wide committees that coordinated interfaith disaster relief efforts in Iowa. She was also a relentless volunteer; as a First Responder in her rural Iowa community – credited with two “saves”, as the county Republican Party chairperson, as the local Parks & Rec chairperson, as a Girl Scout Leader, and as a children’s Sunday School teacher. Through a program called Friendly Town for at-risk inner city children, Marla and her family sponsored a five-year-old girl, Tina (Dawson) Harter. Tina continued to return to Lamoni each summer for more than a decade and became one of the “Potts girls”. In addition, Marla owned and operated a commercial greenhouse for many years. Marla will be remembered fondly for her faith, sense of humor and dedication to her community and family. Marla is survived by her husband of 55 years, Roger. She is also survived by her three daughters: Monica (Steve) Murdock of Newnan, GA, Nolaine (Lori) Bogan-Potts of Baton Rouge, LA and Mohria (Jonah) Martin of Energy, IL, as well as by her siblings Gordon (Wyveta) Percell of Jackson, TN and Judy VanMeter of Grain Valley, MO. She was blessed with two grandchildren Payton and Nola Martin, and two step-grandchildren Janna (Mark) Campbell and Jacob Murdock. Marla also loved spending time with her great-grandchildren Lucy, Annie, Stella and Cora Campbell. She was preceded in death by her parents Austin and Lois (Fitzpatrick) Percell, in-laws George and Nola (Edmunds) Potts, and many cherished aunts and uncles. The memorial service will take place at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, November 5th, at Southwest Christian Church, 504 Center St, Palmetto, GA (arrangements by Parrott Funeral Home). Next spring the family will travel to Iowa for a memorial service and urn interment. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Southwest Christian Care, 7225 Lester Road, Union City, GA 30291 or your favorite children’s charity.

Marla Marie Percell Potts

July 30, 1944 - October 22, 2016