ORAL LEE POTTS

Johnston City-Oral Lee Potts, 88, of Johnston City passed away at 8:18 a.m. on October 7, 2015 at Parkway Manor in Marion, Illinois. With 2 of his children by his side, he began his eternal life with Jesus Christ, his lord.
Oral was born on July 13, 1927, on 9th street, in Johnston City, Illinois. He was the second son of Thomas Herman and Della Mae (Harris) Potts.
Oral graduated from JCHS in 1945 and then joined the Army Air Force. He married Olive Stokes on October 1, 1950, in Johnston City, Illinois. They were married for 61 years. She preceded him in death on Jan. 10, 2012.
For much of Oral's adult life, he worked at Container Stapling in Herrin, Illinois. A draftsman by trade, he finished his career there as Vice-President of Sales. Later in life, he worked for over 10 years as a coal miner at Zeigler Coal. Oral was also a master craftsman, remodeling his family homes, adding rooms, building furniture and other fine pieces. In the last decade of his life, he became interested in genealogy, leaving his family volumes of information, including an obituary binder of Johnston City related deaths from 2003 to 2013. Oral had been a Mason since the age of 21, had served on the Johnston City School Board, had served as an alderman for the city, and was a life-long member of Washington Avenue Baptist Church in Johnston City.
Oral is survived by 3 sons and a daughter, Alan L. and his wife Candace, of O'Fallon, Il, Larry D. and his wife Trisha, of Kansas City, MO, Brent L. and his wife Lisa, of St. Peters, MO, and Susan Smith and her husband Mark, of Johnston City, IL; 10 grandchildren, Melissa Frier and her husband Dave, of Columbia, MO, Laura Rineberg and her husband Steve, of O'Fallon, IL, Rebekah Williams and her husband Ray, of Ashland, KY, Larry Potts, Jr. And his wife Megan, of Imperial, MO, Nathan and William Potts of St. Peters, MO, Tyler Smith and his wife Brenna of Seattle, Washington, Derek Smith of Johnston City, IL, Nicole Peynado and Jamie Cordaway and her husband Jesse of Kansas City, MO.; 9 great- grandchildren, Claire, Jack, and Lily Rineberg of O'Fallon, IL, Parker, Carter, and Max Williams of Ashland, KY, Mason and Ethan Peynado of Tampa, FL, and Braylon Rocha of Kansas City, MO.
Besides his wife and parents, Oral was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Rice Lewis Potts, Jr. and his wife Martha Dial, and his maternal grandparents, Thomas Harris and his wife, Ida Bell Coffman, and his brother Harold, of Pekin, IL.
The family would like to express a special thanks to Dr. Jeff Parks and the staff at Parkway Manor for the special care they provided.
Visitation will be at 5 p.m. on Saturday October 10, 2015 at the Murman and Wilson Funeral Home in Johnston City, with Masonic Rites at 7 p.m. also at Murman and Wilson, funeral services will be held on Sunday October 11, 2015 at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Robert Nolen officiating. Interment will be at Lakeview Cemetery with military rites conducted by the Marion V.F.W., American Legion, and Illinois Army National Guard.
Memorial contributions may be made to #8 Cemetery Association, where many of Oral's ancestors are buried. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.