Jane Potter Gates

July 11, 1931 - June 12, 2021

Jane Potter Gates, former head librarian at the Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture in the Strybing Arboretum at the SF Botanical Garden, died Saturday June 12 at her family’s heritage farm in Albion, Illinois. Gates was born on the family farm July 12, 1931. The second of three children, Jane Potter Gates, was a graduate of the Edwards County High School, attended University of Illinois and earned a bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University and a master’s degree in library science from the University of California, Berkeley. After 30 years living and working in San Francisco, Gates moved to the east coast to work at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) in Beltsville, Maryland. In 2000, upon her retiring as head of the Sustainable Farming Information Center at NAL, the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries presented Gates 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 NAL. She served on the Council for many years in several positions, including those of president and secretary. Gates retired to the Potter Farm, where she continued working part-time for the Albion Public Library where she began her first employment at age 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 in Ohio; Paul and Sarah, in California; 2 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, in California; 2 nephews and several cousins, plus many friends across the country. 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-Meridith Funeral Home, 241 W. Main St., Albion, IL 62806