Betty Cotner

Betty Beatrice Clark Cotner lovingly called BB Slipped away to be with our Savior Wednesday. May 14 2014 after a long illness of strokes.

She had a love of family, God and Life. BB lost the ability to talk so she hugged and kissed the hand of all she met, endearing her to her caregivers and the staff at Miller's Merry Manor. Betty is the 2nd of 11 children of Zelma Lorena Hutchison and Linzy Ellis Clark, and was born October 12, 1924, in Mount Vernon, Jefferson, Illinois.

Betty was Salutatorian for 3 years at Springerton, Illinois High School and attended her senior year at Mt. Vernon Township High School. She then joined the United States Navy Waves, after two of her brothers and one brother in law were off to WWII, to help with the duration of the war. She sewed airplane covers in Chicago the last nine months of the war. She then moved to Logansport where she met and married Ralph Richard Cotner Sr., December 24, 1947 who preceded her in death, March 11, 1996.

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and served a Mission for Jesus Christ in 1990 -1991.

Earlier she worked for General Tire and RBM and until she became ill. BB had hobbies as a seamstress, making square dance outfits and then quillows for family members, Missionaries and friends. She was an avid reader, morel mushroom hunter, square dancer, loved to do crosswords, and play board games, dominos and cards. She had a great memory of songs and sang on any car ride. She loved silly songs and country songs and could even sing when her speech would no longer come.

Surviving are Betty and Ralph's children Gayle (Greg) Gorrell, Dene (Ron) Feller, Ralph Jr. “Rick” (Marcia) Cotner, Marta (Kane) Smiley, Mark (Wendy) Cotner, and Leta (Arv) Jasmantas, eighteen grandchildren, thirty seven great grandchildren, one great great granddaughter. Ralph's sister, Michele Mehsling. Betty's siblings and their spouses, Alletta (Harold) French, Judy (Albert) Schneider, Bud Howard, Harl (Audria) Clark, Stanley (Nori) Clark, Judy Clark, Betty Jo Clark plus several nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death were her parents, three grandchildren, siblings and their spouses Wyva (Bill) Bullard, Lin (Earl) Rose, Amy Howard, Carl Martin, Richard, Gerry, and Eddie Clark and 6 nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at 12:00 PM noon on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint's. William Tincher Jr. will be officiating.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of service on Saturday at the church.

You may sign the guestbook and leave online condolences at www.gundrumcares.com

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