DEWITTVILLE - Mrs. Sally Goodell Overs, died peacefully in her sleep, on Monday January 5, 2015, at a private home in California. Sally, a longtime Chautauqua (Dewittville) resident, was temporarily residing in Lafayette, California with her daughter, Julia Overs Bates. Sally put up a very brave battle against uterine cancer. She left us far too soon and will be very sorely missed.
Sally was born April 23, 1938, in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of the late Edwin Goodell and Katherine Tait. She spent a great deal of her childhood, under the care of her grandparents, Idah Beery Tait and Judge Edgar Tait. She and her recently deceased husband Fritz, met while growing up in Urbana, Ohio. They graduated Urbana High School and Baldwin Wallace College together. Fritz and Sally enjoyed a 56 year marriage.
Sally and Fritz raised their children and worked their professional lives in the greater Cleveland, Ohio area. Sally, a nursing graduate of Kent State University , worked mainly as a Public Health Nurse for Lake County. She retired from Painesville, Ohio to Lake Chautauqua in 1994, she and her family had spent summer vacations in the area for the previous 10 years.
Sally valued the strong sense of community in Chautauqua. She graciously and generously
volunteered much of her time and talents. She spearheaded many of the efforts and successes of the
Mayville Food Pantry, writing grants and presiding over operations. Sally was an avid reader, tireless
gardener and loved spending time with children. She volunteered at the Mayville Library and the
Chautauqua Lake Elementary school. She and Fritz were passionate birders, making trips to many bird
sanctuaries or breeding grounds and actively cultivating a huge crew of regular feeders at their lakeside
home. They travelled frequently to spend time with their children and grandchildren, always making
family a priority in their lives. Sally was always very kind, loyal and compassionate. Sally loved to watch and follow many sports teams and events. She held an enviable wealth of sports knowledge.
Sally was preceded in death by her father Edwin Goodell, her mother Katherine Tignor, and most
recently her beloved husband Fritz. She is survived by her two children, Ned Overs of Phoenix, Arizona
and Julia Overs Bates (son in law Kevin) of Lafayette, California; and three grandchildren, Elle Overs,
Eliza Bates and Tyson Bates.
A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday (June 29, 2015) at the Freay Funeral Home in Mayville.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mayville Food Pantry, 99 S. Erie Street Mayville NY 14757 or to Jamestown Audubon Society 1600 Riverside Road, Jamestown NY 14701
You may light a candle in remembrance of Sally at www.freayfuneralhome.com