Eleanor Kay Mott

Eleanor Kay Mott, age 77, of Olivet passed away at her home on December 12, 2019.
Eleanor was born January 18, 1942, to Beryl and Ormand Sine at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall. She attended her first eight years of schooling at Lee Center Country school and remaining four at Olivet High, graduating in 1960.
She married her high-school sweetheart, Laurel D. Mott, on April 15, 1962, at the Lee Center Methodist Church. Their first and only home remains the family farm, where they have lived the entirety of their marriage. The couple were both instrumental in running the family farm. While Laurel was the heavy lifter, Eleanor was the hands-on assistant wherever she was needed and kept things moving. She was also known to be on a first-name basis with the cows.
Eleanor was employed by Kellogg’s for six years prior to becoming the much-loved, well-known and respected “Mrs. Mott,” special ed and kindergarten bus driver for Olivet Community Schools for 33 years. She not only transported “her kids,” as she always referred to them, but went above and beyond to make sure they knew she cared about them. Many years later, she is still fondly remembered by the students and parents. Of the 33 years she drove bus, for eight of those, she was also the bus garage supervisor. And while Eleanor may have retired from her love of driving, her zest for life and love of serving never retired.
Eleanor was an avid gardener and green thumb and was thrilled this summer when her tulip tree finally bloomed with its first-ever flowers. She was known for her genuine happy spirit, smile and laugh, not to mention her macaroni and cheese, Texas sheet cake and cinnamon rolls.
Not only was she an excellent cook and gardener, she was a talented seamstress and did many do-it-yourself projects, including tiling, painting, and wall-papering for her home and others. If you needed help for anything, you need only ask. She never did anything half-heartedly, and telling her she couldn’t do something wasn’t an option.
Eleanor was a collector of owls and bells, loved watching birds, kept daily diaries for years and was always working on a craft or two.  She and her husband were long-time sports enthusiasts and cheered and attended many, many Olivet Eagle sporting events over the years. She was also a huge, loyal supporter and big-time fan of the Michigan State Spartans and Detroit Tigers. But her greatest love was of that for her family, of which they are the blessed recipients. She was lovingly known as “GG” and found great joy in doting on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
To know Eleanor was to love her. She touched many lives and will be deeply missed and remembered always.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 58 years, Laurel Dwight Mott of Olivet; two children, Scott (Dawn) Mott of Allen, TX,  Christine (Rob) Bramer of Olivet. Grandchildren: Calen (Jessica) Bramer, Cameron (Erin) Bramer, Kiler (Tiffany) Bramer,  all of Olivet, Peyton (Cory) Scheibner, Trevor Mott, Jaclyn (Charlie) Smith, Macy (Chris) Middleton, Caitlan (Jon) Ropson , all of Texas; 15 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews and Greg Darrow.
She is also survived by brothers, Robert A. Sine and Richard O. Sine. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Helen. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service is being arranged.
Please consider a gift to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in her memory.