Sally Ann Ritchie

Sally Ann Ritchie always had the biggest grin when family was around, it would fill her heart to have them all together, especially if they were enjoying her fantastic cooking. At the age of 90, Sally passed away peacefully with family by her side at Big Meadows Nursing Home in Savanna on Monday, March 18, 2024. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 23, 2024 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Savanna. Burial will be in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Savanna. Visitation will be held 4-7 p.m. Friday, March 22, 2024 at Law Jones Funeral Home, Savanna. Memorials will be given to local charities. The family also wishes a special thank you to the Big Meadows staff for their loving care of Miss Sally.

Sally was born February 23, 1934 in Chicago, the daughter of George and Nora (Monohan) Yates. She is a 1952 graduate of Savanna High School. On April 7, 1956, Sally married Boyd “Dude” Ritchie at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Savanna. They raised six children and celebrated fifty-six years of marriage, until Dude's passing September 30, 2012.

Sally’s greatest love in life was being a Wife, Mom, Grandma Great Grandma and Great Great Grandma. She enjoyed the river and shared that love with her family. She also loved to sew, bowling league, shopping with her daughters, and when she was younger, playing girls softball. Her Church community and volunteer work were very important to her as she journeyed through life.

She was an integral part of Ritchie Bus Service for 42 years and was well-known by students as a helpful and caring school bus driver. In earlier years she also operated a beauty shop. Her real work came in during the years of raising six kids. They kept her on her toes, and she kept them in line. Sally was a natural leader for her kids and grandchildren.

Sally will be dearly missed by two daughters, Ramona (John) Coffey of Geneseo, IL, Nancy (Allan) DeSpain of Savanna; two sons, John (Beth) Ritchie of Savanna and Joel (Barbara) Ritchie of Savanna; fifteen grandchildren, Jennifer, Susan, Katie; Jason, Mary, Anthony; Luke, Thomas; Benjamin, William, Ethan, Isaac; Sarah, Samantha and Matthew; twenty-six great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Eunice Bowers of Savanna.

Sally joins those that precede her in death; both parents; her husband, Dude in 2012; a son, Raymond in 1994; a daughter, Kristie Byrnes in 2021; two grandchildren, Andrew Reed in 2009 and Sarah Reed in 1979; a great grandson, Coen Boyd Ritchie in 2012; a daughter-in-law, Susan Ritchie in 2011; and four siblings, Lenora Jaeschke, Patricia Malay, George Yates and Willie Yates.