Ocella Ruth Gottron, 85, died Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at The Atrium following years of progressing Parkinson’s disease. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she was the daughter of Claire O. and Carrie Daugherty.
Ocella was a graduate of Heights High in Cleveland and attended Dyke & Spenserian for Business as well as Wittenberg College, in Springfield, Ohio for Secretarial School. Ocella worked in Cleveland as the secretary to the Secretary of the Cleveland Stock Exchange where she met her future husband, Bob. She also worked as the secretary for the Comptroller of Diamond Alkali while in Ohio.
Ocella was a Rainbow Girl in the Cleveland Heights Chapter, and later was a Mother Advisor after moving to Stuart, Florida. Ocella spent most of her life in Stuart, where she taught kindergarten at the First United Methodist Church and later served as a legal secretary for area lawyers. She was a master at shorthand and letter dictation and often worked in this realm for retired CEO’s on Jupiter Island. After her girls left home for college she began a small catering business out of her home and prepared luncheons and receptions. She joined the Junior Women’s Club in the 1950’s and enjoyed dancing in their cotillion club there.
Ocella was preceded in death by her husband, Bob of 61 years, who passed away in September 2011. She is also preceded in death by her brother Robert Daugherty and her half-brother Melvin Daugherty. She is survived by two daughters, Linda (Ken) Findley, of Lake Charles, LA, and Nancy (Paul) Silvis, of Port Matilda, and grandchildren, SSgt. Andrew Shelton (Sarah), of Valdosta, GA, Melanie Collins of Chicago, Kurtis Collins of State College, Christian (Tina) Collins of Hoboken, NJ, Amanda Findley Meyers (Brandon) of Lake Charles, LA, Amy Silvis (Tom) Gravine of State College, Kristin Silvis (Brett) Thelen of State College, and Michael Silvis, of Washington, D.C.
Ocella played piano and sang in church choirs and was a member of the Sailfish Chapter of Sweet Adelines for many years. She competed singing the bass part in a Sweet Adelines quartet. Ocella volunteered in numerous ways in her church, but probably the most memorable [and delicious] would be her offering to cook weekly church dinners for about 150 people every Wednesday night for four years. Everything was made from scratch! Through her entire illness Ocella maintained her sense of humor, a positive attitude, and the dignity and beauty of a lady – for that she will always be remembered.
Ocella’s friends and caregivers are invited to a Celebration of Life reception at the outdoor pavilion at the Atrium, 160 Lions Hill Road, State College, on Monday, May 14th at 11:00 A.M. A private service for the family will be held on Saturday, May 12th at the Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral Home. Burial will be private at the Pine Grove Mills Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation at www.pdf.org, "Make a memorial contribution" tab. Donations made by June 30 will be matched by the Light of Day Foundation.
A guestbook can be signed and condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com.