Joan McKinney Ott, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died on Monday, September 12, 2016, at the age of 85 in Indianapolis, Indiana, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s.

She is survived by her sister, Joyce McKinney Nail and her beloved children: Judith Ott Vanscoy (Bruce) of Indianapolis, Indiana; James Randall (Eva) of San Marcos, Texas; Jeffery Allen (Cheryl) of North Chesterfield, Virginia; John Jay (Bonnie) of Hedgesville, West Virginia; and her pride and joy, Hall of Famer, Joseph Carey (Wendy) of Winchester, Virginia as well as her grandchildren, Jamie Vanscoy Rahmany (Tarek); Jeremy Vanscoy (Ashley); Robert West; Silas and Leland Ott; Joshua and Gerald Ott; and Ellen Ott Hodges. She also leaves behind six adored great grandchildren, Cole and Sophia Rahmany; Ellie and Harper Vanscoy; Alayna West and Trey Hodges, as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Randall and Leona McKinney; her daughter, Jennifer Ott Henderson and her son-in-law Stephen Henderson; her husband, James Richard Ott; her sister, Mary McKinney Fugate; and her brother, Randall McKinney.

Joan was born in Grafton, West Virginia on March 14, 1931. She attended Grafton High School. She was able to maintain many of her friendships from her childhood throughout the years and loved being a part of the GHS’ers and their annual reunions at Tygart Lake in Grafton. She attended school in Philadelphia to become a certified lab technician and was employed by Winchester Medical Center for many, many years. She married James Richard Ott on December 1, 1951. They were married for fifty-five years before his passing.

Joan was a lover of life. She embraced new adventures with her whole heart ~ joining the Winchester Hiking Club, the Gad-a-bouts, enjoying the company of the Red Hat Society, and whooping some ass in her local Scrabble group. Joan loved nothing more than having her whole family together at the beach where the phrases, “Deal, damnit! Deal!” and “It’s gin and tonic time!” could be heard on a regular basis.

Her spirit will live on in every game of Spades that is played, every beach vacation taken, every book read, and every cocktail enjoyed. The family will receive loved ones on Thursday, September 15, 2016, from 6-8 p.m. at Jones Funeral Home, 228 S Pleasant Valley Road, with funeral services set for Friday, September 16, 2016, at 11 a.m. at the same location. Burial will follow in Mt. Hebron Cemetery.

The family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joan McKinney Ott, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.