CAPE ELIZABETH — Carolyn (Lynn) Watkins Potter, 47, of Cape Elizabeth and formerly of Bridgton, died unexpectedly Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010 at her home.

Lynn was born in South Weymouth, Mass. on Sept. 24, 1963 to Janet Gibbons Watkins and Howard S. Watkins Jr. As a child, she and her family moved to Maplewood, N.J. and then later to Bridgton.

Lynn spent many happy childhood summers at Camp Bendito in Harrison, where she was a camper then a training counselor and also the camp bugler. At Camp Bendito, Lynn made many long and lasting friendships. The most important things to Lynn were her family and her friends. For her Facebook Friends, Lynn’s daily posts of things she was thankful for and expressions of her deep love for her husband Mark, her family and her friends were always a touching reminder of her huge heart and love of life. Lynn always signed off with a wonderful “goodnight” message to everyone.

Lynn attended grammar school in Maplewood, N.J., middle school in Bridgton, and graduated from Lake Region High School in Naples in 1981. While in high school, Lynn was very active in chorus and in theater. Upon completion of high school, Lynn married F. Mark Potter on June 27, 1981.

While living in Bridgton, Lynn was ward clerk at the Bridgton Hospital and went on to get her CNA and EMT certifications. Lynn then worked at the Bridgton Health Care Center and eventually returned to Bridgton Hospital. Lynn served on the Ski Patrol at Shawnee Peak in Bridgton for many years. An unfortunate and debilitating injury limited her abilities to work in the public sector. Being as active as she was, she decided to refocus her energies and opened the Little Dachshunds Daycare Center at her home. She was very active in the American Legion Post 155 in Naples, where she was secretary, vice president, president and then went on to be the district president. She was asked on numerous occasions to blow the bugle for some Legion funerals and special events. She worked diligently for the Legion’s Chinese Auction and volunteered in many capacities with many different organizations.

She is survived by her husband, Mark Potter Sr.; two sons, Bradford Potter of Massachusetts and Mark Potter Jr. of Cape Elizabeth; her mother, Janet Watkins Love and stepfather, David Love Jr. of Harrison; a brother, Thomas Watkins of Lake City, Fla.; sisters, Elizabeth Watkins Patterson of New Gloucester, Susan Love Mulligan of Brighton, Mass., and Nancy Love of Atlanta, Ga.; three granddaughters, and was looking forward to the birth of her fourth grandchild due in April 2011; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Lynn is predeceased by her father, Howard S. Watkins Jr., and her grandparents, Carolyn and Charles David Gibbons.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Riding to the Top Therapeutic Riding Center, PO Box 1928, Windham, ME 04062.