Amelia “Jeanie” Jean (Earhart) Cotter, age 89, of Mansfield, passed away late Wednesday evening, August 27, 2025, at her home.
She was born January 1, 1936, in Hillsdale, Michigan, one of eleven children of the late Thomas and Kathleen (Wibrew) Earhart. She graduated from Springfield Township High School (Ontario) in 1954. Jeanie married her high school sweetheart, Harold Cotter, on June 25, 1955, after dating for 5 years. They were married for 65 years before his passing.
Jeanie was a unique and wonderful woman with a beautiful smile. She was an angel of God and fierce prayer warrior. She put other’s needs before her own and was always willing to help however she could. Jeanie was a loving farmer’s wife, mom, grandmother and great-grandmother who cherished her family. She was an amazing cook and baker and hosted Sunday dinner every week. She enjoyed birdwatching, being especially fond of cardinals and hummingbirds. She dearly loved her dog, Spot, and he was seldom far from her side.
Jeanie is survived by five children, William (Leslee) Cotter, Joseph (Kathy) Cotter, Ginger (Dave) Ohl, Patricia (Thomas) Powell and Michael (Jodie) Cotter; sixteen grandchildren, Chuck (Jessica) Cotter, Steve Cotter (Leann), Matthew (Macy) Cotter, Maggie Cotter (Dillon), Mitch Cotter (Kourtnie), Edward (Holly) Cotter, Cathy (Troy) Sapp, Sarah (Jason) Swank, Daniel (Kristen) Ohl, Benjamin (Shelbi) Ohl, Jacob Ohl, Andrew Ohl (Ellie), Samuel Ohl, Seth Ohl (Ashley), Danielle Powell, and Ellie Cotter (Oakley); and three step grandchildren, McKay Chester, Bradley Shaw, and Michaela Shaw. She is also survived by twelve great-grandchildren, Jack and Charlie Cotter, Kennedy and Molly Sapp, Lily and Riley Swank, Mckenna Murphy Cotter, Emmett Cotter, and Lucas, Liam, Grayson and Hadley Ohl; two great-granddaughters due in the next few weeks; twelve step great-grandchildren, Emma Ross, Preston Weaver, Summer Branham, Dominic Parella, Miyah, Isaiah, Amarah and Kiarah Chester, Sydney and Skyler Swank, and Maverick and Weston; four sisters-in-law, Verna Earhart, Shirlie Earhart, Shirley Kay Earhart and Ruth Ann Staats; and a multitude of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by an infant sister, Agnes; two sisters, Shirley (Robert) Schoenman and Marylou (Stan) Thompson; seven brothers, Scott (Dorothy) Earhart, Charles Earhart, Thomas “Jack” (Joan) Earhart, William (Marylin) Earhart, and James, Richard and Robert Earhart; two brothers-in-law, Forest (Ruth) Cotter and Richard Staats; and a sister-in-law, Erma (Richard) Oswalt.
The family will receive friends from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at Wappner Funeral Directors and Crematory-Ontario, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Road. The funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Diego Sandino of First Wesleyan Church officiating. She will be laid to rest beside her husband in Ontario Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Avita Home Health and Hospice.
Words of condolence may be expressed at www.wappner.com
Funeral Home: Wappner Funeral Directors and Crematory-Ontario
Website: www.wappner-ontario.com