Obituary for Ronald Bott
Ronald Isaac Bott, 91, of St. Louis passed away on January 11, 2022 at home with family by his side.
The family will have a small private service at this time. There will be a graveside service on May 28, 2022 in Elm Hall Cemetery for friends and relatives to attend. More information to come.
Ronald was born on March 9, 1930, the eighth of ten children of Lawrence and Bessie (Gay) Bott, on the family farm 2.5 miles south of Wheeler, Michigan. He would forever refer to this farm as “down home.” Ronald was named after his maternal grandfather, Isaac Gay, and always had great pride in carrying his grandpa’s name. On May 28, 1958, Ronald married Bettie Elvene (Watkins) in Elm Hall. They celebrated 55 years of marriage before her death on January 25, 2014. Ronald was a Ford man. He and Bettie often talked about buying an extended cab Ford Ranger and happened to find the right one, a 1993 model, on their 55th anniversary. The vehicle became a favorite of them both. Ronald also loved Oliver tractors and built his collection of actual tractors and toy replicas over the years.
After Ronald quit farming in his thirties, he became a professional truck driver. He hauled mobile homes out of Shipshewana, Indiana, and later took a job with C&J Motor Freight (eventually Leaseway Transportation) in Lansing, driving a car hauler full of cars all over the Midwest. His favorite destination was Iowa, convinced that Iowans are the nicest people in all of the United States. Ronald retired from trucking in December of 1990.
Ronald was a quiet, compassionate man who never once let his loved ones down. Steady and true, he was the calm in any storm of life. Ronald greatly valued honesty and integrity yet, somehow, never won a game he played against a child. Above all, his sense of humor is what most defined him. He could turn almost any negative around with his dry wit. He never forgot an incident that he could tease someone about again and again. And again. Ronald was a devoted husband and a wonderful father, but, he so cherished being “Grandpa” and loved to be involved in the daily lives of his grandchildren.
Ronald is survived by his daughter Carajane Bott of St. Louis and sons Calvin Bott of Lake George, Ronald Neil (Cindy) Bott of St. Louis, Jonathan (Lori) Ayling of Marcellus and Steven (Judy) Bott of Gainesville, Georgia. He leaves thirteen grandchildren Michael Hart, Laura Harris, Chase (Jesusita) Bott, Jacob (Morgan) Ayling, Hillary (Thomas) Nyekan, Clinton (Ashley Martin) Bott, Derick (Kristie) Gallop, Gerritt (Chelsea) Bott, Rick (Jessica) Gallop, Alex Ayling, Melissa (Eric) Puga, Coralee Ayling, Ben (Kim) Bott. He also leaves several great-grandchildren and many treasured nieces and nephews.
Ronald was preceded in death by his wife Bettie and his seven brothers and two sisters, Carol Brown, Arland Bott, Wilbur Bott, Clare Bott, Norris Bott, Forrest Bott, Lavern Bott, Laurel Bott and Emma Rowley.
The family would like to thank Lara McDonald with Mid Michigan Hospice for her care over the last year. Those considering expressions of sympathy may wish to consider Gratiot County Commission on Aging.
Cremation has taken place at Daisy Hill Crematory in Mt. Pleasant. https://www.daisyhillcrematory.com/
The family will have a small private service at this time. There will be a graveside service on May 28, 2022 in Elm Hall Cemetery for friends and relatives to attend. More information to come.
Ronald was born on March 9, 1930, the eighth of ten children of Lawrence and Bessie (Gay) Bott, on the family farm 2.5 miles south of Wheeler, Michigan. He would forever refer to this farm as “down home.” Ronald was named after his maternal grandfather, Isaac Gay, and always had great pride in carrying his grandpa’s name. On May 28, 1958, Ronald married Bettie Elvene (Watkins) in Elm Hall. They celebrated 55 years of marriage before her death on January 25, 2014. Ronald was a Ford man. He and Bettie often talked about buying an extended cab Ford Ranger and happened to find the right one, a 1993 model, on their 55th anniversary. The vehicle became a favorite of them both. Ronald also loved Oliver tractors and built his collection of actual tractors and toy replicas over the years.
After Ronald quit farming in his thirties, he became a professional truck driver. He hauled mobile homes out of Shipshewana, Indiana, and later took a job with C&J Motor Freight (eventually Leaseway Transportation) in Lansing, driving a car hauler full of cars all over the Midwest. His favorite destination was Iowa, convinced that Iowans are the nicest people in all of the United States. Ronald retired from trucking in December of 1990.
Ronald was a quiet, compassionate man who never once let his loved ones down. Steady and true, he was the calm in any storm of life. Ronald greatly valued honesty and integrity yet, somehow, never won a game he played against a child. Above all, his sense of humor is what most defined him. He could turn almost any negative around with his dry wit. He never forgot an incident that he could tease someone about again and again. And again. Ronald was a devoted husband and a wonderful father, but, he so cherished being “Grandpa” and loved to be involved in the daily lives of his grandchildren.
Ronald is survived by his daughter Carajane Bott of St. Louis and sons Calvin Bott of Lake George, Ronald Neil (Cindy) Bott of St. Louis, Jonathan (Lori) Ayling of Marcellus and Steven (Judy) Bott of Gainesville, Georgia. He leaves thirteen grandchildren Michael Hart, Laura Harris, Chase (Jesusita) Bott, Jacob (Morgan) Ayling, Hillary (Thomas) Nyekan, Clinton (Ashley Martin) Bott, Derick (Kristie) Gallop, Gerritt (Chelsea) Bott, Rick (Jessica) Gallop, Alex Ayling, Melissa (Eric) Puga, Coralee Ayling, Ben (Kim) Bott. He also leaves several great-grandchildren and many treasured nieces and nephews.
Ronald was preceded in death by his wife Bettie and his seven brothers and two sisters, Carol Brown, Arland Bott, Wilbur Bott, Clare Bott, Norris Bott, Forrest Bott, Lavern Bott, Laurel Bott and Emma Rowley.
The family would like to thank Lara McDonald with Mid Michigan Hospice for her care over the last year. Those considering expressions of sympathy may wish to consider Gratiot County Commission on Aging.
Cremation has taken place at Daisy Hill Crematory in Mt. Pleasant. https://www.daisyhillcrematory.com/