Shirley Ann Potter

Shirley Ann Potter, age 95, of Elizabeth, IL, passed away August 3, 2024 at her home, with her family by her side. A funeral service, will be held Thursday, August 8, 2024 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, in Hanover, IL, at 11 a.m. Visitation will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., prior to the service. Burial will follow at Elizabeth Cemetery.

Shirley was born September 18, 1928, in Savanna, IL, the daughter of Homer and Mina (Haas) Vandervate. She attended Hanover schools, graduating from Hanover High School. Shortly after graduation, she was approached by the local education dept. and asked to teach at Hanover’s one-room schoolhouse. She accepted and taught there for about 4 years.

On June 26, 1950, Shirley married Robert Potter, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hanover. She settled into her role as farm wife and homemaker, and soon, mother, having two sons, in 1952 and 1958, respectively.

Once her boys were grown, Shirley worked for Eaton Corp. in Hanover for a number of years, and also for the Dress Shop in Elizabeth.

Shirley kept beautiful flower gardens and had a green thumb with vegetables of all sorts. She was an avid reader, and absolutely loved to bake and cook, always trying new recipes. In her later years, as her health began to decline, the roles got reversed, when her sons started making her meals. She was ever-thankful for their care and help, but wasn’t shy about letting Dennis know that Duane was the better cook!

Shirley will be dearly missed by her sons, Dennis (Phyllis) Potter, of Stockton, IL and Duane (Terri) Potter, of Hanover; grandchildren, Bob (Becky) Potter, of Pearl City, IL, Jennifer (Jason) Barklow, of Pearl City, Troy (Chelsea) Potter, of Elizabeth, Neil Potter, of Dubuque, Blake (Angie) Potter, of Elizabeth, and Cory (Ella) Potter, of Sycamore, IL; 12 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; and sister, Carol Rayhorn, of Elizabeth. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Mina; husband, Robert; sister, Henrietta (Karl) Anderson; brothers, Gordon Vandervate, Clifford (Susan) Vandervate, Ted Vandervate, and Junior Vandervate; and brother-in-law, Bill Rayhorn.