Dewitt Obits

Vivian Estella Cothern

Funeral services for Vivian Estella Cothern, 95, of Monticello, will be held at 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 1, 2017, at the First Christian Church, 1699 N. State St., Monticello. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Nixon Township Cemetery, Weldon. Mackey-Wright Funeral Home, Monticello is handling the arrangements.
 
Mrs. Cothern died peacefully at 5:45 a.m., Thursday, July 27, 2017 at the Piatt County Nursing Home, Monticello. Vivian was born January 31, 1922 in Winchester, IL, the daughter of Ray Elwin and Allie Estella (Simpson) Martin. She married Kenneth Maxwell Cothern on November 9, 1941 in Decatur. He passed away May 3, 2003.
 
Vivian is survived by her children, Patricia Ann Gregory (Duane) of Lynchburg, VA, Daniel Maxwell Cothern (Sandy) of Champaign, IL, Larry Dean Cothern of Chaska, MN, Nancy Elaine McConnell (Bill) of Okeana, OH; 12 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; and 1 great-great granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers Orval Martin and Ray Martin, Jr., and sisters Elizabeth Espinoza, Wava Nichols, Vonetta Martin, and Olivia Martin.
 
Vivian was a housewife and worked in sales/marketing. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Monticello and was active with the Deland-Weldon PTA. Vivian formed the First Christian Church worship service at Tatman Village and she also received the Barnabas award by the First Christian Church for her incredible gift of encouragement.
 
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the First Christian Church or the Piatt County Nursing Home Alzheimer’s Unit.
 
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.mackey-wrightfuneralhome.com