Page created by: Donna Bottner

On Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020, James C. Bottner, loving father and grandfather, died at age 85. Dad was born July 27, 1935 and grew up in Owsley County, Kentucky. He served in the Army and later moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where he married Gale Heiob (deceased). While there he served on a volunteer fire department and as a church deacon. They raised two daughters, Sheryl Porter and Donna, in New Port Richey, Florida. He began his career there as a law enforcement officer, and later served New Port Richey as Chief of Police. Dad is credited with modernizing the NPR PD and hiring its first female officer. He even made Johnny Cash an honorary police chief in 1980. Dad served the city for 20 years, 10 of them as Chief. When he retired from the police department he joined the Pasco County Sheriff's Department for 11 years, and took a volunteer position at the NPR PD for eight years. He married June Sachse (deceased) in 1978 and added her son, daughter, and grandchildren, to his family. Dad was a long-time member of the Florida Police Chiefs Association and met the love of his life, Yvette "Sugar" Ellis (deceased), by introduction by longtime friend Martin Rickus, adding her three daughters and grandchildren to his family. Dad was most happy hosting family Thanksgiving and Christmas events every year, spending time with and caring for the lady in his life, and sharing his pride in his grandchildren's careers. He made many friends at Fitzgerald's Irish Tavern, was a Civil War history buff, had a very dry sense of humor, and will be missed by all of us. He is survived by his brother, Michael Tillman and two sisters, Judy Han and Becky Riffe, loads of nieces and nephews, several cousins, his cherished granddaughter, Erin Kathleen, his two daughters, his step-children and their families, and many friends on Vermont Avenue and at Fitzgerald's. We love you, dad. Rest well. 

Dad was diagnosed with Stage One Parkinson's in 2014. He originally suffered from early onset of Lewy Body Dementia and mild Neuropathy. These afflictions were finally linked to Parkinson's by a neurologist. Medication managed all symptoms for several years. In March of 2019, Dad fell as a result of the neuropathy while getting dressed and fractured his Thoracic-12 vertebrae. After treatment and rehabilitation he was doing great, but fell a second time in late April and fractured his femur. This was the beginning of the end. The trauma from the fracture and surgical repair accelerated his Parkinson's to stage four. He managed and did well for many months with intensive physical and occupational therapy and moved into an assisted living home. In April of 2020 he began having small "episodes" and required multiple hospitalizations and in-patient physical therapy. He was very depressed during the assisted living lockdown of COVID-19. Dad was finally transferred to a skilled nursing center for more physical therapy. Even though he had 74 days of therapy paid by MediCare, the center opted to terminate his therapy. His decline hastened. From July to October 2020 he lost 32 pounds and lost the will to live. Better insurance and better health care are imperative for those with Parkinson's. Please donate so others can have the treatment that wasn't available for our Dad.