Leonard D. "Buddy" Mott

On July 19, 2018, after a steadfast and valiant eleven year fight, Leonard “Buddy” Mott, age 85, died of oral cancer, at Bonham Nursing and Rehab Center, where he had been a patient for two weeks. He did absolutely everything he could possibly do to live, but the latest tumor was particularly aggressive. He didn’t lose his battle with cancer, his undeniable resilience and faith won, not the cancer. He lived graciously and courageously with cancer until the very end. Inspiring others, he faced his battle head on, and taught us determination, exceptional courage, and most of all, unwavering faith.  He is home with his heavenly Father.

Leonard was born on December 4, 1932 at the family homestead in Union Township, the sixth of seven children to Linden and Sarah Downing Mott.

He attended a one room school house in Pleasant Valley and then spent three years at Huntington Mills High School.  At the age of 16, he journeyed to Timnath, Colorado to work with his older brother, Jay, on a dairy farm. He graduated from Timnath High School, Colorado in 1950, where he lettered in basketball and track.   It was during that time, that he met the love of his life, and wife of 57 years, Ruth Elaine Weitzel.

Leonard was drafted into the Army and did basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.  He applied for Mountain Cold Weather Training with the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Carson, Colorado.  He and Ruth lived in Colorado for 16 years, where their three children were born.  He then moved his family back to Pennsylvania and formed a partnership with his brother Jay, where together they owned and operated Misty Valley Dairy Farm in Harveyville, Huntington Township.  After he retired from farming, he worked for Little Lumber Company in Benton retiring in 1994.

He was ordained an Elder in the Timnath Presbyterian Church in Colorado.  He was a member of the Town Hill United Methodist Church, Shickshinny for 52 years.  He served the Lord in many capacities, including singing in the choir, trustee, working at the ice cream socials, and visitation.   He was always ready and willing to help anyone in need.  Leonard took great pride in his Christian faith and never wavered, even during the darkest of days during his most recent chemo and radiation treatments.  Despite those struggles, he maintained a positive and optimistic attitude, holding true to his favorite motto “Never Give Up”.

He was an avid bowler, enjoyed roller skating, ice skating, fast pitch softball, and all sports. He also enjoyed water and snow skiing while in his seventies, teaching several of his grandchildren to ski. 

Leonard was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Ruth Weitzel Mott.  Also preceding him in death, his brother, A. Jay Mott, and sisters, Lorraine Stookey, and Hilda Sheerer. He is survived by a brother, Gale Mott, Bloomsburg, and sisters, Mabel Kashetta, Shickshinny, and Eileen Scherer, Shickshinny.  He is also survived by daughter, Julie Conner and husband Dan, Stillwater; son, Curtis Mott, Benton;  daughter, Laura Shaffer and husband Glenn, of Shickshinny Lake.  His beloved grandchildren are Natalie Wilson and husband Tyson, Benton; Jake Letteer and wife Nicole, Shickshinny; Sarah Shaffer and fiancé Drew Hercik, and Sam Shaffer, of Shickshinny Lake; step-granddaughter, Tara Stauffer and husband Jeff, Bloomsburg; great-grandchildren, Ryder and Aubree Wilson, Brynley and Braxton Letteer; step-great-grandsons, Lucas and Jacob Stauffer. 

A memorial service will be held at the Town Hill United Methodist church on August 4, at 10:30am with his pastor, Bethany Wood, officiating.  There will be no calling hours.  Interment will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Harveyville.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the McMichael Funeral Home, Inc.,  Benton.  Condolence messages may be posted at www.mcmichaelfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory, to the Town Hill United Methodist Church, 417 Town Hill Road, Shickshinny, PA 18655, or, Donald P. Vrabec House of Care, 100 North Academy Ave, Danville, Pa  17822.  The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Thomas Kennedy and staff, The Donald P. Vrabec House of Care, Geisinger Hospice, and Bonham Nursing and Rehab Center.

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