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Calvin Lewis Potts, 33

| July 4, 2021 12:00 AM

We are so very heartbroken to announce the passing of Calvin Lewis Potts on June 20, 2021, in Caldwell, Idaho.

Calvin was born in Dillon, Montana, on Aug. 21, 1987, to Ronald and Charlotte (Unger) Potts. During his early childhood, Calvin moved with his family to several areas in Montana, Canada and Idaho. During his early teen years Calvin and his family settled in the Boise, Idaho, area where he would later join the military.

Calvin joined the Army in 2004 where he was proud to serve as a combat engineer. He was deployed to Iraq twice, once in 2006 and again in 2011. He was honorably discharged in 2012 after returning from his second deployment. The work Calvin was able to accomplish and the bonds he gained while serving in the Army were extremely impactful in his life and he would often speak of the bonds of brotherhood he felt with his fellow soldiers and the pride he had in being a soldier. Calvin never considered himself a hero, but his family and friends knew otherwise.

Calvin loved being in the woods and mountains, so after leaving the military he moved back to his home state of Montana in Bigfork. He began working on his degree in forestry at Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell. Calvin received his associate's degree in 2019. Anyone close to Calvin knew how hard he worked to accomplish his goal of getting that degree and he proudly wore his famous ear to ear smile after graduation.

He was a restless soul and was always looking for jobs that would take him somewhere extraordinary and that would satisfy his need for adventure. He worked climbing cell towers for a while and would often send breathtaking photos of himself clipped to a cell tower hundreds of feet in the air. Calvin also spent a summer as a wildland firefighter, another as a forestry technician with the Forest Service in Bigfork and in Arizona, and then cleared Forest Service trails in the Scapegoat Wilderness.

Calvin was a loyal friend, and his best qualities were his big heart and ear to ear smile. He had a soft spot for animals, more than once rescuing a baby squirrel from a fallen tree and nursing it back to health. Calvin also loved to spend time with his horse, Clover.

He will be missed dearly but we find comfort in knowing that he is finally free of the battles that he fought on this earth with PTSD. Calvin is now with his mother Charlotte, whom he so dearly loved, in heaven and in the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Calvin was preceded in death by his mother Charlotte (Unger) Potts, grandfather Harry Potts, and uncle Dallas Potts.

Calvin is survived by his father Ronald Potts, his brother Jordan Potts and wife Kellin and children Deborah, Laban, Deban, Frayja, and Ragnar, his sister Dana (Potts) Allard and her husband AJ and children Kaylen, Amber, Drew, Charlotte, Josiah, and Winston, his grandmother Marianna Potts, his grandparents Herman and Irene Unger, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Although Calvin leaves behind many family and friends who are going to miss his big smile, “unique” singing voice, and one of a kind laugh, we are also left with the thoughts of what Calvin’s life could have been had he been able to free himself from the wounds he carried. Please help us honor Calvin’s memory by remembering and praying for the men and women in the military who have fallen victim to and are currently battling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Calvin, we love and miss you, but we honor you with all of the memories you gave us and the love you so openly shared with everyone around you. We will see you again; until then, rest in the arms of the Lord.

Much love, your family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation to The Wounded Warrior Project in Calvin’s name, or cards can be sent to “Potts Family” c/o Dana Allard, P.O. Box 971, Superior, Montana 59872.