Obit: Ellen Cotterman

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ELLEN KAYE COTTERMAN

(Parker)

Age 69, of Tipp City, Ohio, passed away Sunday, December 12, 2010 at her home surrounded by her loving family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Newton Brownlee Parker and Mary Lee Parker and her sister, Susan Louella Mara. She is survived by her fiancée’, Stan Evans of Tipp City, and her children, Stacie Lee Blake of Safety Harbor, FL., R. Adam Blake and wife Amy,  and Bryan T. Blake and wife Michele of Tipp City, OH., and Stan’s children; Angela J. Merriman and husband Chris of Galloway, OH.,  Corinne E. Vaughn and husband Andy of London, OH., and Ben H. Evans of Tipp City, OH., and her stepson Matthew Cotterman of Anna, OH. She leaves ten grandchildren; Taylor Congleton, Maxwell Heffernan, Parker Heffernan, Noah Blake, Caleb Blake, Christian Blake, Luke Blake, Deacon Blake, Adrianna Merriman and Chandler Cotterman.

Ellen was born June 10, 1941 in Huntington, WV. She graduated from North High School in Columbus, OH, and subsequently graduated from The Ohio State University in 1964. Ellen taught at Worthington Public Schools in Worthington, Ohio and moved to Tipp City, Ohio in 1980.  She was known for her civic activism and her promotion of art education. The impact of her volunteerism in the community is enormous and defines the Tipp City you see today. She was an original organizer of the committee to create the National Register of Historic Places designation in Tipp City, Ohio. She was a founding board member of the Tipp City Restoration and Architectural Board of Review, the Tipp City Tree Board, and helped Tipp City earn the Tree City USA designation. She was a trustee of Tipp Monroe Community Services, a member of Zion Lutheran Church, a board member of Child Care Choices, a member of the Miami County Republican Central Committee, a member of the President’s Club of The Ohio State University, a member of the Tippecanoe Eastern Star, a Paul Harris Fellow of the Tipp City Rotary Club, a designer for the Tipp Players, and the Tipp City Volunteer of the Year in 2009.  She helped to found the Tipp City Area Arts Council and was a lifetime member. She was instrumental in creating the design of the beautiful antique light posts that line Main Street in Tipp City.  Ellen was an author, an artist, a naturalist, an entrepreneur and committed to the economic vitality of downtown Tipp City.  Ubiquitous sightings of Ellen on her golf cart with dogs, grandchildren, plants or antiques were common.

Ellen overcame multiple obstacles, but never let them define her outlook or her existence. Ellen lived every moment of her life to its fullest and will be missed by those fortunate enough to know her. In lieu of flowers, her family requests contributions to The Ellen Kaye Cotterman Art Fund c/o the Tipp City Foundation, PO Box 626, Tipp City, Ohio 45371-0626. The family will receive friends at Frings & Bayliff Funeral Services in Tipp City, OH on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 from 4-8 p.m. and 10-11 a.m. on Thursday at the Tipp City United Methodist Church, 8 W. Main Street with a funeral service immediately following at 11:00 a.m..