Patricia Dena Potter

Patricia "Dena" Potter, age 61, of Wurtland, KY, formerly of New Carlisle, Ohio, passed away peacefully on the morning of October 15, 2026.  

Dena was born May 7, 1965, in Portsmouth, Ohio, a daughter of Jessie Rayburn Potter of Wurtland, Kentucky and the late Carl Potter, whom she missed dearly, as well as her maternal and paternal grandparents. Her family finds comfort knowing she is now at peace alongside her father and grandparents.  

Dena found immense joy in the simple things in life—riding motorcycles, feeling the sand at the beach, getting lost in a good book, crafting Christmas decorations, and spending quality time with her family and friends. Above all, she adored her five grandbabies and loved making slime with them to create treasured memories.  

​Her grandchildren were the center of her world. Dena took immense pride in raising her three youngest—Brendon, Lillian, and Taylor—under her roof, watching them blossom under her care. She held a special place in her heart for "her girls," Lillian and Taylor, and her deepest hope was to see them grow up and become amazing young women. She cherished seeing Brendon grow from an eight-year-old boy into a loving big brother to his sisters, held deep pride in Austin’s Air Force service and looked forward to seeing Cayden and Brendon graduate together from the same school in May of 2027. She was eager to watch Cayden follow his path into the Air Force to travel the world and serve his country, and she held a deep wish to see Brendon succeed in whatever path he chooses to pursue in his future. Whether cheering at sporting events, hosting sleepovers, or sharing goofy moments and laughter, her grandbabies filled her heart with complete happiness.  

​Above all else, Dena was a devoted family woman. The first two true loves of Dena’s life were her two sons, Bryan and Jason. She held a deeply precious relationship with her mother, Jessie; the two shared an unbreakable bond built on a lifetime of love, unwavering care, and continuous support that meant the world to Dena. She was equally grateful for her loving younger brother, Kenny, and his wife, Tina—or "sister," as Dena affectionately called her. Following the loss of their dad, Kenny stepped up with guidance, love, support, and unwavering strength, and Dena constantly bragged about having the absolute best younger brother anyone could ever ask for. Her greatest gift was the selfless love she gave so freely, and her greatest legacy lives on in the memories she built with the people she loved.  

In addition to her mother, she is survived by two sons Bryan (Gwyn) Ernst of Springfield, Ohio and Jason Ernst of New Carlisle, Ohio; a brother Kenny (Tina) Potter Sr. of Greenup, Kentucky; five cherished grandbabies, Austin Ernst, Cayden Ernst, Brendon Ernst, Lillian Ernst, and Taylor Ernst; her favorite nephew Kenneth Potter Jr.; along with many other beloved family members and friends.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00pm, Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at Reed Funeral Home in Greenup, Kentucky by Chaplin Jim Smedley.    

Burial will be in the Callihan Cemetery in Argillite, Kentucky.

Visitation will be from 11:00am until service time on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Condolences may be made at www.rlrfuneralhome.com