Dates
Shelann Eudora (Bodell) Potts, 59, lost her brave struggle with cancer on Monday, January 26, 2015.
Embraced by the comforting arms of her husband and family at home, she peacefully left all of her pain
behind.
Born August 5, 1955, in Odessa, Texas, Shelann was the second of the six children of Ray and Joyce
(Neighbors) Tinney. The namesake of her grandmother Eudora (Roberts) Neighbors, Shelann certainly
inherited her strength, her wry humor, her robust opinions, and her zest for life. She attended San
Angelo Central High School and Howard College. On August 9, 1975, she married her soul mate, Jessie
Potts. A dedicated oilfield wife and homemaker, Shelann also worked as a nurse, which was the perfect
profession for such a hardworking, caring soul. Although she lived her life in West Texas, she loved to
travel and especially enjoyed visiting New York City, New England, and the casino. Her passions were
simple. Shelann adored animals, particularly her dogs. Big or small, purebred or stray, she nurtured
every creature that crossed her path. On a nice day, you would probably find her and Jessie camping
and fishing on the banks of the Concho or on the shores of area lakes, a hobby she shared with her
younger sister Sue. She had a green thumb and thus a houseful of plants and when she could, the best
garden around. Most profoundly, Shelann was the family caretaker, even more so after her mother
passed away. With no children of her own, she was a mother to all, always there to lend a hand, a
shoulder, a smile, an encouraging word. Everyone who knew her loved her deeply, and the gift of her
vivacious and mischievous spirit lifted up so many in their time of need. Shelann loved good music,
good food, good (sometimes off-color) jokes-she loved life-and she had the will to bear many
burdens. Her absence will leave an empty place in many hearts.
Shelann is survived by her devoted husband of forty years, Jessie Potts of San Angelo; two brothers,
Mark Tinney of Beckville, Texas, and his friend Sylvie Desforges of Montreal, Canada, and Ed Tinney and
his partner Wayne Hebert of Newmarket, New Hampshire; eight nieces and nephews, including her
special niece Serena (Bodell) Contreras and her husband James of Virginia Beach, Virginia; eleven great
nieces and nephews; and many other family members and friends.
Shelann was welcomed into the next life by her parents, her youngest brother Jason Tinney, her sister
Sue (Tinney) James, her great nephew Daniel Valencia, and her older brother Larry Bodell. What a
wonderful reunion in Heaven that must have been!
The family would like to thank Shelann's wonderful caregivers-her husband's family, especially her
sister-in-law Lena (Potts) Binyon; her great niece Melanie Valencia; and Hospice of San Angelo-for
their devotion and love in the final months of her journey.
Memorial Services will be held 4:00 PM Thursday, January 29, 2015, at Johnson's Funeral Home Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of San Angelo, SPCA of San Angelo, or your
favorite charity.