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Life story

" Nancy Lee Osburn Potter, 78, passed away peacefully at home in Culpeper, VA, on July 25, 2025, surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer. Nancy was a beacon of intelligence, compassion, and joy who left an indelible mark on everyone who knew her.

Born in Iowa City, Iowa on September 28, 1946, Nancy was the daughter of James Octavius Osburn and Ina Luceil Cox Osburn. Nancy and her siblings, Stephen and David, had an adventurous childhood with summers spent camping, hiking, and mountaineering all over the United States. Nancy attended kindergarten through grade 12 at University High School in Iowa City, where she graduated as class valedictorian. She went on to Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, before earning both her bachelor’s degree (1971) and master’s degree in nursing (1978) from the University of Iowa.

Over the years, Nancy worked as a nursing educator, a pediatric nurse practitioner, a school nurse, and a community volunteer who promoted the importance of washing hands and using child safety seats. After developing breast cancer and surviving chemotherapy and radiation in 2004, Nancy turned to more spiritual pursuits and discovered a passion for helping others through various alternative healing modalities, including Healing Touch, reflexology, sound healing, and essential oils.

Nancy had a remarkable zest for life and a deep affinity for music. She played many instruments, including piano, trumpet, violin, banjo, and accordion, and she loved making music, especially with family. In fact, she met the love of her life, Tom Potter, while taking banjo lessons. They enjoyed dancing together and playing Old-Time and Cajun music at festivals and music camps.

In her youth, Nancy expressed her love of movement and rhythm through gymnastics, and as an adult, she participated in RAGBRAI, the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. Later in life, she discovered a passion for line dancing, and she served as a leader of senior line dancing groups in Sterling and Dixon, Illinois. She adored finding new songs, helping her fellow dancers learn new routines, and performing for audiences.

Nancy found delight in making blankets, Halloween costumes, whimsical toys, custom musical instrument bags, and spiritual keepsakes for friends and family. She had an unquenchable appetite for learning about new topics, trying puzzles and brain teasers, playing games, and collecting jokes and comics. Nancy was constantly reading, writing, listening, creating, and surrounding herself with her favorite color: purple. Her infectious sense of fun, joy, and positivity brightened the lives of everyone who knew or met her.

Known for her open-minded and compassionate spirit, Nancy was always a source of comfort and support to her family and friends and a loving role model for her children and their families. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was also a beloved healer, teacher, life-long learner, creator, and friend. We are forever grateful for the time the Universe allowed Nancy to share her love and light with us.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents and brother Stephen Eric Osburn (Kathe Shaklee), sister-in-law Ann Cruice Potter, and more recently by her husband Thomas Jackson Potter, who suffered a stroke in September and died in December 2025.

Nancy is survived by her brother, David Osburn (Beverly Lesch) of Pinole, CA; sister-in-law Sarah (Sally) Hammond Potter (Lynne Ruelaine Stokes) of Lansing, MI; children: Laura Joy Morris of Culpeper, VA, Cassandra Aileen Morris (Richard Alan Morris) of Jacksonville, AR, James Jackson Potter (Rachel Michael Penczykowski) of University City, MO, and John Robert Potter (Sandrea Ruthann Potter) of St. Johns, FL; grandchildren: Alyssa Marie Francis Gaskins (Griffin Tanner Gaskins), Zachary Taylor Francis, Trey Alan Morris, Drew Michael Morris, Elijah Marshall Morris, Jesse James Morris, Ilona Sofia Potter, Zygmunt James Potter, Leo Jackson Potter, Ace Andre Thomas Potter; and great-grandchild Milo Tanner Gaskins.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) or a child-centric charity such as Ronald McDonald House, St. Jude, or Shriners Children’s in her memory."