Lila Mae Distin

Lila Distin, age 87, of Ottawa, left this earth for her heavenly home Monday, April 25, 2022 with her loving family by her side.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 30th at the First Baptist Church, 103 West McKinley Road, Ottawa with Reverend Bill Clark, OSF Hospice Chaplain officiating. Interment will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the church. Pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Jill, Allie, Stephanie and Christina Lemrise, Amy Winfrey, Jaclyn Stahlhut, Jon and Sarah Spicer, Chris and Ben Distin. Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home is honored to assist the family.

Lila was born May 1, 1934 in Clementsville, Kentucky, the daughter of Benjamin and Marie (Hicks) Harden. She married Vernon E. Distin August 26, 1951 at the First Baptist Church parsonage in Ottawa. Vernon preceded her in death November 14, 2012. Surviving are her children, Deb Spicer (Mike Simon) of Orlando, Florida, Connie (Ron) Franzen of Highland, Illinois, Terry Distin of Ottawa, Kansas, Mary (Al) Lemrise of Peru, Julie Distin of Ottawa, Helen (Rusty) Rockford-Wells of Ottawa, Sharon Torres of Ottawa and Mike (Martha) Harden of Grand Ridge. Lila also leaves grandchildren, Sarah and Jon Spicer, Amy (Adam) Winfrey, Jaclyn (John) Stahlhut, Ben and Chris Distin, Jill, Allie (Kevin Dale), Stephanie and Christina Lemrise; and great-grandchildren, Ava and Andrew Winfrey, Leonardo, Lincoln and Lyanna Dale, Cash Stahlhut and Blakely Spicer-Fraser. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Vernon; and brothers Howard Eugene, Kenneth, David, George and Danny Harden; and a great-grandson Oatley Vernon Dale.

Lila was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Ottawa where she was active in various organizations. Her leisure time would find her sewing, quilting, playing euchre (was very competitive) and doing craftwork. Lila was a very kind, generous and caring person who often donated her time to serve others. She enjoyed time spent with her family, particularly fishing with Vernon and enjoying the number of fish caught thanks to her “good luck hat!” Her grandchildren and friends in nursing homes will miss the Christmas cookies and fruit bread she would prepare and deliver for the holidays. She will be dearly missed by her family and extended church family and friends.

Memorial contributions can be directed to the First Baptist Church. To share a memory, please visit www.gladfelter-roetker.com or Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home on Facebook.

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