Mrs. Leota B. Rollinson

Salem, IL – Leota Rollinson, 89 of Salem, died May 10, 2020 at her home surrounded by family and her wonderful caregivers. She was born August 15, 1930 and named Leota Mulvany. She was the third of four children born to a rural family living east of Omega, Illinois. Her father, Fred, was a farmer. And her mother, Bertha Ellen, was a traditional farmer’s wife. She attended the Brown Christian Church. She went to grade school at Brown grade school. She went on to High School in Kinmundy and then on to Salem Community High School. She married Ross Rollinson on June 13, 1948. The “depression era” then newly-weds moved to Kell. They joined the Baptist church and became involved in normal community life. Leota was a hard worker and through the years helped Ross whenever needed. She took care of the house, which included washing clothes using a wash board, canning, and mowing the lawn. She did whatever needed to be done. Soon after arriving in Kell they started their own family when Steven Wayne was born in June 1949. He died three days after birth. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the entire family. As Ross was working to support the family, Leota focused on raising a family and tending the home. She remained very close to her sister Francis Smith, and her brothers Oren and Carroll Mulvany and their families. Their second son Randall was born in 1950. Richard came along 17 months later. In 1956, Terry, the first Rollinson girl in many generations arrived. In 1963 baby Jeana followed to round out the family. Leota was a strong Christian woman who worked hard to instill conservative morals and values in her children. She was warm, caring, funny, charming, and always sensitive to the feelings of those she encountered. She had an uncanny ability to listen to others, empathize with their situation and sort out a solution. She was filled with grace, as well as backbone to confront difficult situations, while keeping a cool head. Her life on this earth ends as a testimonial to these wonderful attributes and much, much more. She was truly lovely in every sense of the word. She is survived by her husband Ross, her brother Carroll Mulvany, her dear cousin Darlene Bandy, four children, eleven grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren. Private family graveside services will be held at Zion Grove Cemetery south of Kell. Memorials honoring Leota may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation and left at the Sutherland - Rankin Funeral Home, P.O. Box 97, Salem, IL 62881 (618) 548-1234 entrusted with the family’s care. Online expressions of sympathy can be left at www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Leota B. Rollinson

August 15, 1930 - May 10, 2020