Jeanette E Potter, 67, former Oregon Township treasuer, died Tuesday afternoon following a two-vehicle accident on Marathon Road, south of West Lake Road, in Oregon Township. Potter was on route to her daugherÕs home with her grandchild, 2. Photo courtesy SGT, JASON PARKS/Lapeer County SheriffÕs Department

Jeanette E Potter, 67, former Oregon Township Treasurer, died following a 4:42 p.m. two-vehicle accident on Marathon Road, south of West Lake Road, in Oregon Township.

"She loved the township, and she loved its people," said Oregon Township Clerk Pamela Ross. "She touched the life of everyone who came to know her."

When the accident occurred, Potter was on route to her daughter Rebecca Matheny's home with grandchild, Heidi Matheny, 2. She was less than one mile from her own home, driving south on Marathon Road in a 1997 Mercury Marquis.

Road conditions were icy with snow, winds, and dropping temperatures, reported Lapeer County Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Parks. Potter lost control of her vehicle and it went into a counter-clockwise spin and crossed over the center line into the northbound lane. Potter's car entered the path of a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Mary Shelton, 76, and her passenger Phyllis Vantine, 53, both of Columbiaville. Potter's auto was struck broadside on the passenger side.

Potter was transported to Lapeer Regional Medical Center and was later pronounced dead. Shelton was transported to Lapeer Regional Medical Center and Vantine to Hurley Medical Center, in Flint. Both were in stable condition and expected to recover, said Parks on Wednesday.

Heidi was released Wednesday from Hurley Medical Center, where she was treated for bumps and bruises from the accident.

"My husband, Brian, spent the night with her in the hospital, and she is okay," said Rebecca. "She was mom's little angel, and she's ours. We're lucky she survived."

Correct use of a child safety seat saved her, said Parks.

"It's amazing. The safety seat made all the difference in the world," Parks said. "The back right seat collapsed right up to her car seat. It held her in position, and kept her safe. I have no doubt she would have suffered severe injuries, or even lost her life without it."

The Lapeer County Sheriff's Department was assisted at the scene by the Marathon Township First Responders and Lapeer City Fire & Rescue. The roadway was shut down for about three hours for rescue and accident scene reconstruction and investigation.

Potter will be missed by friends in the township board, and in the art world. She gave 18 years of service to Oregon Township. Potter was deputy treasurer from July 1986 to November 1988, when she was elected as treasurer. She served until 2004.

"She was a person who believed in her cause," said former township trustee Larry VanHorn, who was acquainted with Potter for about 40 years. "Even if it was unpopular, she stood by what she thought was right. She was a committed, wonderful woman."

Potter was a well known fabric artist and a member of the Lapeer Art Association.

"She was an inspiring person. She added so much to the spirit of the gallery," Gallery 194 Director Carolyn McCarter said.

Potter also used her skills to help others. She sewed blankets for Trinity United Methodist Church in Lapeer where she was a member. She loved hummingbirds, cooking and nursing her friends back to health.

"She was special," Ross said. "She always passed on home remedies when she heard someone was sick."

She was well known in the community for her apple pies.

"They were her specialty," Rebecca said. "Everyone had to have one of her pies."

Jeanette was a devoted wife to her husband of 41 years, William, known as "Gar", and doted on her two grandchildren, Brandon, 9, and Heidi, 2. In addition to Rebecca and Brian Matheny, she leaves behind sons Ernest Carter and Robert Fraser and his wife Ginny and siblings Gloria Hayes, Arden June, and his wife Sue.

A funeral service will be hold 11 a.m. today (Feb. 29) at the Jansen Family Funeral Home in Columbiaville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lapeer Art Gallery.

Susan Younger may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8122 or susan.younger@lapeergroup.com