John Mott

John L. Mott passed away on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021. He was born in Manor Township, Armstrong County on June 11, 1931, and grew up Sharon, PA with 4 other siblings (Robert Mott, Evelyn Mott Uber, Edward Mott, and David Mott, all predeceased John).

John was a member of the Plumber and Pipefitters Union #27 and was dedicated to union values of fairness and safety all his life. He was certified as a teacher of apprentices, and later in his career, he was selected to teach apprentices for a special summer program at Perdue University. John’s math knowledge, including trigonometry, helped many young apprentices, as well as his children’s homework. He remembers in detail almost every job he worked and with whom he worked on those jobs.

So many family members, friends, and neighbors know John as a walking example of kindness, generosity, and forgiveness, peppered by a little stubbornness. If someone needed a plumbing repair, John was there to help and most of the time refused payment. He was a perfectionist often admonishing “if you can’t do it right, don’t do it all!”

John lived humbly and minimally, giving away most of what he earned and what he owned. He was the Good Samaritan on the road of life for countless family, friends, neighbors, and even casual acquaintances.

For a while, he had a small hobby farm with a few animals and a large garden. It was his dream to put forth the knowledge and the skills he gained from his in-laws in West Virginia, whom, to this day, still call him “Johnny” and love him as one of their own. Much of his gardening knowledge also came from his father, Milo O Mott.

He lived the simple life enjoying the outdoors, wildlife, and the changing seasons in Western PA. John enjoyed hunting, but mostly he just enjoyed being outdoors surrounded by nature. He had 12 birdfeeders on his 5.7 acres in Jefferson Twp, Mercer, PA, and valued watching various birds, wild turkey, deer, squirrels, racoons, fox, and bear that came to feed. There was always a little corn sprinkled around to make sure the deer and turkey would find a treat.

A favorite memory of the family is the multiple excursions to hunting camps in Tionesta and later to Smethport and to his brother Bob’s camp in Leeper. The activities included sled riding, campfires, snowmobiles, hiking, spotting deer, and card games along with a little beer or a swig of Black Velvet.

John is survived by his children Jeffrey J Mott (wife: Linda Collins Mott) and Catherine V Mott (husband: John F Logan), and grandchild, Kelly Mott Fahle (husband: Michael Fahle). Grandchild J.T. Mott is deceased and was sadly missed by his Papa John. Also, he is survived by great grandchildren, Annie Fahle and Kadin Mott.

Predeceasing John was his ex-wife and mother of his children, Alice Ferguson (Miller Mott) and surviving him is his former second wife, Dawna Show Mott, and all her children: Jolie, Valerie, Emily, and Stacy (Kenny predeceased John). They all adopted John as their own father and loved his kind and gentle soul. John became Papa John to the step-grandchildren too. For a couple of years, one of the step-grandchildren, Luke Wentling and his wife Carrie, lived with Papa John. They had a very special relationship.

John practiced what he preached often stating that “actions speak louder than words”; his actions knitted together a theme of resounding Christian principles: Love your neighbor as yourself and do so with actions such as kindness to others, generosity to those in need, and constant forgiveness for all inflictions.

Oh yes, and he loved pie. His favorite joke was that he only liked two kinds of pie, hot and cold!

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Tamarack Wildlife Rehab Center, 21601 Stull Rd, Saegertown, PA 16433 or www.tamarackwildlife.org

The family invites all to a public gathering to honor John’s life at the Greenville VFW on Saturday September 25, noon to 2 p.m. Masks are advised as the Covid virus remains a public health concern.

Online visitors are welcome to sign the guest book at www.loutzenhiserfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Loutzenhiser -Jordan Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. 366-368 S. Main Street Greenville, PA.