Carolyn Yvonne Potts

Carolyn Yvonne Potts, formerly of West Salem, IL, passed away June 10, 2026, at Oakview Nursing & Rehab, in Mt Carmel, IL. Carolyn was born March 18, 1939, in Bennington, IL. She was the third of four children, born to Earl and Pearl Lomas. They had Opal and Irene, who were only two years apart and then along came Carolyn, nine years later! Carolyn was happy to share the “baby of the family” statis, at age nine, when her “baby brother” Eldon was born! At her 87th birthday party, Eldon came in and she said, “there’s my baby brother”. Some things never change.

Carolyn grew up in the northwest corner of Edwards County, in the tiny little town called Bennington-formerly known as Blood – and is still listed as such on some maps. She attended the little country school house, Blood School, from age five until junior high, when those students were moved to the school in West Salem, IL. Carolyn was sad when entering the second grade without her big sister, Irene, who had just graduated 8th grade. She attended the Edwards County High School but chose to leave school in 1954. She most likely thought she had learned all she needed to learn. She was ready to get a job, and that is just what she did. And as many people do, when they get older and wiser, she decided she didn’t know all she needed to know. She took night classes and received her GED, at the young age of 50! She was still invited to join class reunions, at what would have been her graduating class of 1956. She faithfully attended the quaint little group that met for the Blood School Reunions, until there were not enough people left to carry on that tradition.

Carolyn had her first Child, Dennis Ray Clark, in 1956. A few more life changes and she had Patti and Beverly Harrison, in 1962 and 1963. And then eight years later, Gary Harrison, in 1971.

Carolyn was fortunate enough to have been married to two men who, even though they preceded her in death, were totally devoted to her while together and they each one treated her like a queen. She married Floyd Summerfield in 1982. Floyd preceded her in death on October 31, 1985. Carolyn married Robert Potts on May 27, 1988. Carolyn gained three step-children in this union: Debbie, Patty and Lori.

Carolyn worked at many jobs starting at a young age of 16 – earning 75 cents an hour at the shoe factory in Olney, IL. Some of the other places she worked were: Champion Laboratories, The Dairy Bar, West Salem Manor, Casey’s and the Senior Citizen’s Center, all in West Salem, IL. She also worked at the Senior Citizen’s Center at Browns, IL, where she made some lifelong friendships before it closed due to funding issues. Those folks became like a little family. She also worked in the deli at IGA and Willum’s Restaurant, in Albion, IL.

After her marriage to Bob they joined a Gold Wing Motorcycle club, and enjoyed many trips from east to west. She documented details of their trips and took bazillions of pictures. She had photo albums galore, so it seemed strange that she always stated that she did NOT want photos displayed at her funeral. That wish will be honored. Now you won’t have to wonder why there are no photos, on the day of her celebration of her life well lived. Carolyn also liked to collect recipes. There are many! So we would love to share them. Please feel free to look them over on the table on the day of the service and take a recipe, most written in her own lovely penmanship. I think Carolyn would have loved the idea of sharing the recipes she collected over the years with her friends and family.

Carolyn was a member of the First Christian Church in West Salem, joining in 1994. Her faith in God was unwavering, though she had many hardships in her life. Poor health kept her from attending regularly, and in the last few years, dementia made it even more of a struggle. Even with her limited ability to articulate, she still could assure us all in her last days that she was ready to meet her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Her greatest sorrow was losing her oldest child, Dennis, at his young age of 17. It has been said that our trials in life can change “who you are”. A person might wonder what might have been, if she had not had to bear such grief. We will never know. But rest assured, they are together again! Her broken heart that she carried for her son all those years finally broke for the last time, as congestive heart failure took its toll.

Carolyn loved to read. Even from a young age she loved books and received them, happily, as Christmas presents. Written in her mother’s handwriting in the front of an old Bobbsey Twins book is “Presented to Carolyn Lomas Dec. 25- 1948.” She also read through the Bible on several occasions, writing in one of her many Bibles the years she finished it.

Carolyn enjoyed working in the kitchen, preparing food. That was made evident by her choices of employment. Also witnessed by family get togethers where she loved sharing some dish… usually sweet. The grandkids remember her “Happy Birthday, Jesus” cakes, at Christmas time. One of her standby dishes was pea salad. As she began her decline, she would ask for the recipe of pea salad brought to her, as she had “never had that before”. She loved it so much but didn’t know it was her very own recipe being shared back to her.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, her son Dennis in 1974, her sisters, Opal Dorman and Irene Dorman. Her husband, Floyd Summerfield and spouse of 36 years, Robert Potts. Also preceding her in death was a step-daughter, Patty Potts, and a great-grandson, Keeton Mewes.

Carolyn has many loved ones who are left to carry on her legacy of kindness. She modeled for us all how to care for others. She cared deeply for her own “Mother and Daddy” and visited them often. As well as visits to her Uncle Lester Tucker and her sisters, in long term care. The people that she taught these lessons to will all miss her greatly. Her children, Patti (Max) Michels of Albion, Beverly Hall of West Salem, and Gary Harrison of Roseburg, Oregon, can only hope to model for their own children, how best to care for others. Sharing in their grief are two step-daughters, Deborah Potts of Lawrenceville, and Lori (Johnathan) Wilbourne of Bridgewater, IA, who felt that Carolyn accepted them as her own. Carolyn leaves behind seven grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren, and many great grandchildren, nine nieces and nephews, and one very special first cousin, Ann, who will greatly miss their phone visits.

Carolyn will be missed by her many friends and family that she shared her life with over her 87 years. She had many phone friends, as getting out was made difficult with health issues. The residents at Acorn Estates, where she and Bob moved to shortly before his death, missed her so much when she had to enter the next stage of life and move to Oakview Nursing and Rehab. Some of the residents, on her wing, were able to tell us of their sadness, that she was gone. They had become like family. She was loved by the residents and the staff.

Carolyn’s family will gather to celebrate her life, at Ingram Meridith Funeral Home in West Salem, on Friday, June 19, 2026. Visitation will be two hours before her funeral service, 10:00-12:00, and the funeral will start at noon. Burial will take place following the funeral, and she will be interred next to her son, Dennis, at Macedonia Cemetery in West Salem. Memorials can be made to Edwards County Council on Aging, West Salem First Christian Church, or Macedonia Cemetery.