Betty Jane Cotner

March 16, 1932 - January 09, 2012

Reynoldsburg, Ohio 

Visitation: 4-8 p.m. January 12, 2012 at Cotner Funeral Home

Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. January 13, 2012 at Reynoldsburg Church of the Nazarene

Interment: 1:00 p.m. January 13, 2012 at Glen Rest Memorial Estate 

Betty Jane Cotner, age 79, of Reynoldsburg, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on Monday, January 9, 2012 after a long and difficult fight with Parkinson’s disease. Betty was born March 16, 1932 in Columbus, Ohio. She graduated from Central High School in 1950 and worked at Nationwide Insurance. She played the piano and organ in several Central Ohio Churches of the Nazarene including, Warren Avenue, Wilson Avenue, and Reynoldsburg. She loved music and shared her gift with many through the church and in the funeral home. She loved the Gaither’s music, and she traveled every year with numerous good friends to their Praise Gathering. God called her husband, William Cotner, to funeral service. Despite her fear of funeral homes, she knew God called them to this ministry. She was determined that they would not let their funeral home look like a funeral home, and they would minster to those in need during some of their most difficult times.

Together Bill and Betty took over ownership of A.J. Held Funeral Home on Parsons Ave., becoming Held-Cotner, where they served families until 1975. In 1972, God called them to Reynoldsburg to expand this ministry. They purchased the Pete Rutherford Funeral Home, which became the Cotner Funeral Home. She worked diligently to provide a comfortable atmosphere to care for families. The homey feel, from the antiques to every flower that she meticulously cared for, was all due to her hard work and efforts. Betty and Bill continued serving Reynoldsburg and the surrounding communities for many years. She was a devoted and caring wife; a kind and generous mother; and the most proud and loving grandma.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 52 years William B. Cotner; parents Chester and Nellie (Hensley) Hansher. Betty is survived by her sons, Brad Cotner (Karie Fisher) and Barth and his wife Julie Cotner; granddaughter, Lucie Jane; grandson, Casey Randal; brother Jack (Marilyn) Hansher; sister-in-law, Marilyn "Mickey" (Bill) Fishburn; very special nieces and nephews Kevin (Theresa) Hansher, Kim (Randy) Huffman, Kent (Diane) Hansher, Karrie Hansher, Bruce Fishburn and Kendra Fishburn. Betty had many dedicated caregivers that provided not only care, but true friendship and love; Karie, William Porter (daughter Kaitlyn), Bethany Ellis, Elizabeth Reynolds, Glenna Ruark, and “daughters” Jennifer (Marlon) Johnson and April Oates, to whom we extend our most sincere gratitude. Your care, love and support is priceless and will never be forgotten.

Our family will receive friends at her funeral home, 7369 E. Main Street, Reynoldsburg on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. Friends may also come together on Friday from 10-11 a.m. at the Reynoldsburg Church of the Nazarene, 1340 Crest Street, prior to a funeral service honoring her extraordinary life to begin at 11 a.m. Contributions in her honor may be made to Gideons International (www.gideons.org) or the Reynoldsburg Church of the Nazarene. Messages may be sent to our family and an online video tribute may be viewed by visiting www.cotnerfuneralhome.com. Mom was the most generous and kind person. She had the love of Jesus in her heart that she shared with all she knew. We are so thankful for all she has done and will miss her more than words can describe.