Ottis U Mast

Ottis U. Mast, 95, passed away at his daughter, Cheryl Mullet’s, home, Friday, January 12, 2024 surrounded by his loving family. Funeral service will be conducted by Ben Fleagle, Willard Petre, and Philip Knepp, Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Magnolia Mennonite Church on Magnolia Drive, Macon, MS. Interment will follow in the church cemetery with Marv Lapp officiating. Visitation will be held at the church, Tuesday, January 16, 2024, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Cockrell Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with arrangements.

He was born in Kosciusko Co., Indiana on March 6, 1928, to the late Uriah and Elizabeth Mast. On December 29, 1949, he married Anna Mae Troyer. Ottis became a believer in his teenage years. He was a member of Magnolia Mennonite Church, believing in God as his Savior and Leader, and being active in Church life.

His children well remember that his morning prayer always included ‘God blessing his crops with good weather’, praying for his children, then his grandchildren, and finally the great grandchildren. The desire of his heart ended his prayers with, “Lord, when you’re finished with us here, take us home to be with You in glory, praising You, world without end, without the loss of one.” This conveys how much he loved his family and spent a lot of time with them, especially in his retirement years.

Serving in the church and the broader world included serving 10 years with his wife as Region II Director for Mennonite Disaster Service. His eyes were opened and his heart was softened as he witnessed the natural disasters many suffered. It also led to many lifetime friends.

In 1964 he moved his family from Goshen, IN to Macon, MS in the ‘spirit of evangelization by colonization’. There he was a dairy farmer and grain crop farmer. He drove his semi to deliver grain to the elevator. Wisely, he stopped driving his semi at the age of 92!

He is survived by four children: Glenn Mast, Meyerstown, PA, Carolyn (Don) Miller, Auburn, IN, Rosetta (Daniel) Petre, Macon, MS, Cheryl (John) Mullet, Brooksville, MS; three daughters in law, Maggie Mast, Canon City, CO, Lois Mast, Mt. Airy, MD, Joyce (John) Miller, Brooksville, MS. Also left to mourn are 32 grandchildren, 106 great grandchildren, as well as one sister: Nancy Chupp, Eden Valley, MN; four brothers: Elmer Mast, Macon, MS, Robert Mast, Elkhart, IN, Wilbur (Judy) Mast, Etna Green, IN, Uriah Jr. Mast, Nappanee, IN, and one brother-in-law Marvin Miller, Nappanee, IN.

He was preceded in death by his wife; two sisters: Buelah, Elizabeth; six brothers: Omar, Joseph, Glen, Roman, William, Samuel. Also preceded by two sons: Otis Elwayne Mast and Ernest Eugene Mast as well as three grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Serving as Pallbearers will be grandsons: Rodney Mast, Brad Miller, Willard Petre, Doug Mast, Lowell Mullet, and Curtis Mast

Honorary Pallbearers are: Kevin King, Brett Troyer, Willis Hostetler, Vernon Smucker

In lieu of flowers,

Memorials made be made to the following Charities: Mennonite Disaster Service, 583 Airport Rd., Lititz, PA  17543; Christian Aid Ministries, P.O. Box 360, Berlin, OH  44610, or Students International, P.O. Box 990, Visalia, CA 93279