Dorothy Mott

MIDDLETON – Dorothy Ann “Dot” Mott, 88, of Madison, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at Attic Angel Community, with family at her side, after a long, courageous battle with dementia. Dot was a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Dot was born on December 12, 1933, in Flasher, North Dakota, where her parents, Ray and Leta (McCoy) Gilbertson were schoolteachers.  Most of her childhood was spent in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.  She graduated from P.J. Jacobs High School in 1951.  She attended Wisconsin State College-Stevens Point, followed by training as a Medical Technologist at Madison General Hospital in Madison.

Dot was an avid sports fan. In Madison, she met her future husband, James A. Mott, who happened to work in the Athletic Department at the University of Wisconsin.  For the next sixty-five years she was a fixture at Badger football, basketball, and hockey games.  Dot and Jim’s love of Badger sports was passed to their children and grandchildren. Dot enjoyed spending time with family and friends playing cards and games. She enjoyed her Bridge groups and later in life her Mahjong groups. The many friendships she made from her Bridge and Mahjong groups were very dear to her.  Dot enjoyed other hobbies throughout the years including gardening, knitting, reading, doing puzzles and baking. Her family will miss her Christmas cookies! She also loved weekends at Pine Lake with family. We will miss seeing Dot relaxing on the end of the dock with her nose buried in another novel. She very much enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and grand dogs.

A lot of people knew Dot from her work at Quisling Clinic, Nielson Tennis Stadium and Mallatt’s Pharmacy.  She volunteered in the coffee shop at Madison General/Meriter Hospital and volunteered for twenty years at Attic Angel. She established countless strong friendships through her work and volunteer activities.

Dot was a person of strong faith. She and Jim were longtime members of Bethel Lutheran Church. She also was a very social person.  Unfortunately, the pandemic coincided with the onset of her memory decline. The necessary isolation at the beginning of the pandemic – dinners in her room, no in-person Badger games, and no outings with family – was very difficult for her.  Fortunately, with the vaccines and boosters, she was able to resume in-person visits up until her passing.

She is survived by her three sons – William (Julie) Mott of Middleton, David (Stephanie) Mott of Waunakee, and Eric (Analisa) Mott of Madison - her grandsons Jim (Jessica, great granddaughter Emma) Mott of Lafayette, Colorado, Andrew (Lindsey) Mott of Lakewood, Colorado, David Mott of Middleton, Nicholas Mott of Madison, and granddaughter Mattigan Mott of Madison.  She is also survived by her sister Carole (Gilbertson) Bruce and many loving aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Jim, in 2009. She also was preceded in death by her parents, sister Betty (Gilbertson) Cornell, brother-in-law Marshall Cornell, and brother-in-law Charles Bruce.

Many, many thanks to the wonderful, caring staff and volunteers at Attic Angel Community, in both the Households and the Haven.  We are especially grateful for the care and compassion they demonstrated keeping the residents safe during COVID-19.  Many thanks also to Agrace Hospice for their care and support over the past many months.

There will be a memorial service for Dot later this spring or summer. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations towards Attic Angel or Agrace Hospice.

Thank you for everything, Mom.  We love you.