Gloria Jean Bottlinger

Gloria Jean Bufe Bottlinger was born on July 19, 1946 as the second daughter to Fritz and Meta Schramm Bufe of Priddy, Texas. The Bufe family were faithful members of Zion Lutheran Church in Priddy, Texas. On September 8, 1946 she was baptized by Pastor A.H. Muehlbrad. Her baptismal sponsors were Emma Schramm, Velma “Tuffy” Johnson, Leroy Bufe, and Otto Schramm. Jean attended elementary school in Priddy and in 1959 her family moved to Pottsville where she attended school from September 1959 until graduation in May of 1964. At the age of 13 and in the years to come she learned how hard life on the farm would be following the death of her father on December 25, 1959 as she took on providing for the family by continuing the farming and ranching operation while still going to school and working. She was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pottsville on April 10, 1960 by Pastor F.L. Bracher with the confirmation verse from I Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.

Following graduation Jean was employed by CPAs in Hamilton for 23 years doing bookkeeping and income tax preparation. She learned to know many people in Hamilton and surrounding town. She continued to live on the family farm at Pottsville for 18 years and then she and Milton Bottlinger were united in Holy Matrimony on December 23, 1982 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pottsville and started their own farm in Hamilton County. First the Lord blessed them with Melissa Kaye on December 25, 1983 and three years later with Michelle Jean on March 13, 1987. Since 1982 she attended St. John Lutheran Church in Hamilton as a faithful member for the remainder of her life. At St. John she served as a Sunday School teacher for many years. In 1989 Jean was employed by Bert Schrank Inc. until she was forced to retire from her bookkeeping job due to her cancer diagnosis in 2006. Jean continued her work in the farming and ranching activities throughout her life. She worked tirelessly caring for her family, cooking home cooked and home grown meals from her garden, and helping everyone in every way she could. After her retirement she enjoyed being at home with her husband and enjoyed keeping her grandchildren and teaching them the same values she learned.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Fritz and Meta Bufe, her only sister, Nelda Ann Bufe Tucker and her husband Royis Dearle Tucker. She is survived by her husband Milton Bottlinger, daughter, Melissa Bottlinger DeLaGarza, her spouse Sonny and three grandchildren Colton, Carolina, and Clayton as well as daughter, Michelle Bottlinger Cantara, her spouse Nicholas and two grandchildren Joshua and Emma.

Through God’s grace she was able to live her life knowing of her life and forgiveness in Christ. Jesus has come to receive her home into eternity and His promise to us is that one day we shall join him.

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