Margaret “Jane” Potter Gates

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Jane Potter Gates of Albion, Illinois died Saturday, June 12, 2021 at the age of 89 years.
The second of three children, Jane Potter Gates, only daughter of the late Philip and Margaret (Shupe) Potter was born July 11, 1931, on the Potter Farm, 2 miles west of Albion. After moving away briefly, the family came back to Albion where Jane graduated from Albion Grade School and, in 1948, was in the last class to graduate from Albion Community High School (now Edwards County High School).
She attended the University of Illinois for two years, married, and moved to California where she lived for over 30 years. After almost 20 years as a full-time housewife and mother, Jane worked for a brief period at Pacific Bell Telephone Company, at the same time returning to school, earning a bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University and a master’s degree in library science from the University of California, Berkeley. For nine years, she was head librarian at the Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture in the Strybing Arboretum in Golden State Park, San Francisco.
At the age of 59, Jane moved to the East Coast to work at the National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, Maryland. In 2000, the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries presented Jane its top award for her outstanding contribution and meritorious service to the Council and the field of botanical and horticultural libraries and literature at Strybing and at the National Agricultural Library. She served on the Council for many years in several positions, including those of president and secretary.
After retiring in 2000 as head of the Sustainable Farming Information Center at the National Agricultural Library, Jane returned to the Potter Farm. She returned to working part-time at the Albion Public Library, where she began her work life at the age of 13. In 2008, she was recognized by the Edwards County Soil and Water Conservation District for her outstanding land-management practices at the Potter Farm, which has been in her family since 1916.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her older brother Philip Richard (Dick) Potter and younger brother H. David Potter. She is survived by her 3 children, Philip and his wife Regena, Plain City, Ohio; Paul and his wife Sue, Walnut Creek, California; and Sarah, Pacifica, California; 2 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren, 2 nephews and several cousins, plus many friends across the country.
There will be no visitation. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Albion Public Library, and will be accepted by the Ingram Funeral Home which is in charge of all the arrangements.
Ingram-Meridith Funeral Home, 241 West Main St., Albion, IL. 62806