DATELINE: ASSUMPTION

Opal Olive McKinley Potter passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 in Meadowbrook Health Center at Clark-Lindsey Village in Urbana, Il. Services for Opal Potter will be 10:30 am Saturday, April 6, 2013 at Assumption Christian Church in Assumption, Illinois. Visitation will be on Friday from 5-7 pm at Seitz Funeral Home in Assumption, IL.
Opal Olive Potter was born on October 30, 1914 on a farm in the Knobs community north of Tower Hill, Illinois. She was a member of a double initialed family – her father, William Wallace McKinley; mother, Metta Maude Miller McKinley; and sister, Enid Elizabeth McKinley McElroy. All are deceased.
Opal's grade school learning started at age 4 at Knobs school and she was a member of the 1931 graduating class from Tower Hill Community High School. She then obtained a teaching certificate from Eastern Illinois University and taught 32 years in one-room school houses in Shelby and Christian counties and in the Assumption school district. Opal's retirement came in 1985 when she fell and broke her hip while playing basketball with her PE class at Bond Elementary school in Assumption, IL.
Opal was an accomplished singer and sang at funerals, weddings and in church choirs. Her most noted appearance was at the state penitentiary in Menard, IL where she sang, "The Old Rugged Cross" before an audience of hundreds of prisoners.
Mrs. Potter served as a Girl Scout leader for the Assumption troop in the 1960's and was a member of the Assumption Women's Club. She was a member of the Assumption Christian Church for many years and had served as choir member, class teacher and Sunday school pianist. She played bridge and was an avid pinochle player. Opal had a keen interest in all college and professional basketball, especially the Chicago Bulls, as well as the Cardinals' baseball team. Opal loved to read and do word puzzles. A great lover of animals, Opal took in all those animals that came to her door to care for and feed them.
During her married years, Opal was a typical farm wife and helper on the farm until it came to planting. Her husband was afraid she couldn't drive a straight row and wouldn't let her help him with that aspect of farming.
Opal was married to Claude Potter of rural Assumption on October 4, 1938. Claude passed away on August 2, 1966. She leaves one daughter, Renee (Rick Broyles), and one granddaughter, Eleanor Broyles of Champaign, IL; one niece, Tammy (Tym) Wilson, of Newton, North Carolina; one nephew, Monte (Donna) McElroy and one great niece, Erin McElroy of rural Moweaqua; one great-nephew, Lantz Wilson of Mission Viejo, CA; her last cat, Joey, of Champaign; as well as a host of friends. She was also preceded by her beloved cat, Bob.
Memorials in Opal's name can be made to the Assumption Historical Society, Pana Community Hospital's Rehab and Wellness program, the Assumption Christian Church or Saving Orphaned Animals, in care of the City of Shelbyville (IL) Police Department.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Meadowbrook's Renewal and Assisted Living units for the care, support and concern they provided to Opal. These individuals provided the last two years of Opal's life with love and friendship. Opal will always want their hearts to be blessed.
Seitz Funeral Home, Assumption has been entrusted with the care and service arrangements. Condolences for the family may be left at www.seitzfh.com
"What we love we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us." Helen Keller