Joe Poteat, 78, of Murphy passed away Thursday, October 25, 2018 in an Atlanta, Georgia hospital. He was a native of Spindale, North Carolina. Joe served more than 35 years in the United States Coast Guard as a helicopter rescue pilot. He retired from the Coast Guard as a Commander and pilot. Joe moved on to work for the Florida Division of Forestry as a firefighter helicopter pilot. He graduated with a criminal justice degree from Corning Community College in Corning, New York. He was a member of the Cherokee Masonic Lodge No. 146 and the Oak Grove Baptist Church in Murphy. Joe enjoyed boating and eating at Waffle King with his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Justin Walter Poteat; his mother, Euzelea “Susie” Northy Groom; his step-father, Lawrence E. Groom Jr.; a sister, Patricia Smith; and a brother, Lawrence E. Groom III.

Surviving are his wife of 24 years, Mary O’Connor Poteat; his first wife and mother of his children, Mary Margaret Cleary Poteat and the extended Cleary family; two sons, Joe Frank Poteat, and Jon Alan Poteat and wife, Denise; a daughter, Paula Marie Poteat, all of Horseheads, New York; a brother, Robert Poteat and wife, Linda of Gilmer, Texas; four granddaughters, Janaye Poteat and fiance, Cody Wall, Danielle Poteat Smith and husband, Stephen, Justine Poteat Schneider and husband, Dan, and Sara Poteat Lowe and husband, Jared; two great grandsons, Camden Joseph Crowley and Thomas Baker-Lowe and a great granddaughter, Evelyn Mare Schneider.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, November 1, 2018 in Oak Grove Baptist Church, Murphy with the Revs. Ronny Crisp, Randy Johnson, and Gerald Derreberry officiating. The interment was in the church cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by the Murphy American Legion Post 96, Hayesville VFW Post 6812, and Hayesville American Legion Post 532, and with masonic graveside rites. Pallbearers were Reggie Pendley, Dennis Fetzer, Loye Reid, Jimmy Bailey, Keith Allen, and Jeremy Hall.

The family received friends from 6-8 Wednesday evening at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy where the body remained until placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the services.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.