Elizabeth Jean "Scottie" Hontz

God first. Family second. Profession third. Scottie Hontz credited that formula for the many joys of her 87-year life as a Protestant, a wife, a mother, and a public school teacher. She first heard that formula preached in her Scranton, Pennsylvania Methodist church when she was thirteen-year-old Elizabeth Donaldson and it helped guide her life.

God first. “When one’s belief is grounded in God,” wrote Scottie, “love and truth dominate, life has purpose, self-esteem soars, joy abounds, and one faces the ups and downs of life with God at one’s side.” Scottie was raised and married at the Simpson Methodist Church in West Scranton, Pennsylvania. At the First United Methodist Church of Newton, New Jersey, Scottie sang in the Senior Choir for 30 years, directed the Cherub Choir, taught Sunday School and served on boards and committees in her most active years. In retirement, Scottie sang in the choir and enthusiastically sold tickets for the annual quilt raffle at the United Church of Dorset and East Rupert, Vermont. At Yellow Frame Presbyterian Church in Fredon, New Jersey, Scottie found a loving and supportive spiritual home in her final years. Scottie loved God and loved the church in her personal life but believed in “strict separation of Church and State” in order to ensure, “successful government and a strong democratic society.”

Family second. Scottie proudly identified as “Mrs. Jack Hontz,” through 62 years of marriage and beyond Jack’s death in 2019. She was a proud and boasting mother of three sons: John Douglas (“Jackie”) Hontz, who predeceased her in 2017, David James Hontz of Newton, and Mark Joseph Hontz of Fredon. She loved and was loved by her attentive daughters-in-law, Cindy, Donna, and Stephanie. Scottie reveled in the lives of her nine grandchildren: Kelly Lynne, Jack Joseph, Samuel David, David John, Matthew Robert, Nathaniel Joseph, Thomas Abraham, Emily Elizabeth, and Susanna Carolyn. Her final months were illuminated by her great grandsons, Macklin and Grant. Scottie was the Scranton, Pennsylvania-born daughter of Ethel (Fear) Donaldson and John Hastie Donaldson. Her father, an immigrant from Scotland, inspired her life-long nickname, “Scottie,” though she was always “Elizabeth” to her mother. Scottie’s older brother, Fred Donaldson, predeceased her, as did her niece Jill. Nieces Beth and Kristin were a source of continuing love and comfort to Scottie.

Profession third. Scottie Hontz cherished her professional career as a public school teacher. She enthusiastically embraced Friedrich Froebel’s philosophy, “Play is the business of children.” Since her earliest school years at John Marshall No. 41 elementary school in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Scottie wanted to be a teacher. She graduated from West Chester State Teachers College in three years, then taught at the Waverly School in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, Halsted Street School in Newton, and the Helen Morgan School in Sparta. When her three children were still young, and with the help of babysitter Gloria Moffett at Paulinskill Lake, Scottie embarked on a 28-year odyssey as the Kindergarten teacher at Fredon Elementary School in Fredon, New Jersey. She filled her classroom with music, art, books, poetry, and a sense of belonging to the community. The tools of her trade were the piano, painting easel, sandbox, blocks, trucks, crayons, dolls, activity centers, structured play opportunities, and so many wonderful books. Her grocery store and post office classroom constructions grounded her students in community service while her poetry evenings and fine art prints instilled an appreciation of the arts and the humanities. Students were welcomed into class each day with a “Good Morning” song and classroom guests were enthusiastically celebrated with thoughtful complements from students with her prompting, “Who has something nice to say to our guest?”

Scottie deeply appreciated and was sustained by her personal and professional friendships in New Jersey and Vermont. In recent months, she expressed her longing to be reunited with her husband and her oldest son and her passing is the answer to her recent prayers. Scottie left this world profoundly grateful for the affections of her family, her friends, her colleagues, her former students, and her caregivers. Her departure marks her well-earned graduation from the Kindergarten classroom.

The Hontz family is grateful for the superb, compassionate care Scottie received as a resident at Bristol Glen. A celebration of the life of Scottie Hontz will be held later this summer. Scottie requested that any memorials be sent to: the Yellow Frame Presbyterian Church in Fredon, New Jersey, the United Church of Dorset and East Rupert in Dorset, Vermont; or to the First United Methodist Church of Newton, New Jersey.

A service celebrating the life of Elizabeth Jean “Scottie” Hontz in music, word, and hymns will be held at 7pm on the evening of Friday, July 7 at the First United Methodist Church of Newton, New Jersey, 111 Ryerson Avenue, Newton. Teaching Elder Michael Nelms and Rev. Dr. H. Alden Welch will officiate the service. Friends, colleagues, and former students are welcome. A coffee hour of fellowship will follow the service in Holland Hall at the church.