Astoria, oregon - Robert Leon Potts succumbed to cruel glioblastoma on May 18, 2025. He was the most intelligent, most well-read person to ever draw breath. And strong!....and funny. His love of the natural world led him to many places: geographically, artistically, and creatively. His photography acclaimed, his garden admired. Shy, but he would gladly converse on those two subjects with just about anybody.

Somewhere along the line he picked up a wife, Stephanie (nee Harper) and a daughter, Amelia Rose. He was a good husband and a kind, gentle father. Many in the wildland firefighting community, wildlife biology and poetry communities, and photography communities will miss him for sure. He is also survived by his mother, Shirley Bledsoe Potts, a sister, Linda Parker (Lester), seven nephews and three nieces, Lyra Stone among them.

Bob wanted his ashes scattered at Crescent Beach, so sometime later this summer on an East wind we can meet and do that for him.

Someone asked, "What are we going to do after he dies?". I think we will learn to work together and remember him with love..

Have a big hole in us.

Cry a lot. Laugh knowingly a lot.

Talk to Mr. Shnubs like an intermediary

Have conversations in our head with him.

Walk around the place and ask him what to do.

Give him imaginary hugs.

Try to see the humor in things the way he can.

Feed his birds.

Weed his flowers.

Walk his trails.

Watch his waves.

Follow his example and be in our skins, in the flow, here. now.

Strive to not let a pretty day go to waste.

Remembrances may be sent in his memory to the National Audubon Society (audubon.org) or to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation (xerces.org).