My Gummie Sista

My cousin Liz passed away on Monday. She was such an amazing woman! She and her sisters were like the sisters I never had. We called ourselves {still do} the gummie sisters- a VERY inside joke. Liz always made me feel special and loved, even though I was 10 years younger than she was. 

We had great chats in my bedroom & giggle-filled sleepovers. I felt so cool when she would take me to BYU for the weekend to stay in her dorm room and eat at the Cougar Eat.


She didn't care that on our trip to California and Disneyland my face was covered in chicken pox scabs. We belted Whitney Houston and Billy Joel in the car until our throats were sore.

I love you, Liz! 

I wish I could have said goodbye.....

But, I cannot wait to say HELLO again someday!

Elizabeth Ann (Young) Ott, of Pottstown, PA, age 43, was born in Salt Lake City, UT on June 29, 1967, and died at home in Pottstown, PA on March 7 after a valiant battle with breast and liver cancer. 

Liz graduated from Upper Merion Area High School in 1985. In 1988, she obtained an English degree with a minor in German from Brigham Young University.  From September 1988 to March 1990 she served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Germany, Hamburg Mission. During her mission, she served in Berlin and was on her mission during the fall of the Berlin Wall. Liz received a Masters degree in American literature from BYU in 1992 and taught at El Camino and Orange Coast Colleges in California. She met her husband Ed on the evening of the Northridge Earthquake, January 17, 1994 and they were married in 1995 for time and all eternity in the St. George L.D.S. Temple. 

In recent years she taught at Montgomery County Community College in Pottstown. She was a gifted teacher and received the Adjunct Teacher of the Year Award for 2009. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and at the time of her death was serving in the Young Women’s organization of the Church. 

Liz is survived by her husband Edward T. Ott, children Katherine E. Ott, Samuel E. Ott, and Jacob E. Ott, all of Pottstown, PA. She is also survived by her parents, Lowell S. Young and Joan E. Young of Wayne, PA, and sisters Yvette Y. Hadley (Chet) of Newark, DE, Rachel Y. Johnson (Marc) of Prospect Park, PA, and Caroline Y. Sadler (Dee) of Ivins, UT, and twenty-five nieces and nephews. During her last illness, she showed love and concern for all of her visitors and was an example to all of us how we ought to live our lives. Her family wishes to thank all those who cared for her at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Pottstown.