Anniemarie Clarice Ottis, 91, of Bay City passed away April 27, 2017 surrounded by her daughters. She was born December 8, 1925 in Jones Creek, TX to the late Willie Maerz and Ellenora Wendel Maerz. Clarice skipped the second grade at Jones Creek School and later went on to graduate as Valedictorian at the age of 16 from El Campo High School with the Class of 1942. After teaching for 3 years she went on to Southwest Texas State Teachers College where she also graduated as Valedictorian in 1948. Her two proudest moments at college were beating her tennis coach in a singles match and swimming the San Marcos River (she couldn't swim). She took a job at Bay City High School teaching homemaking and sponsoring the pep squad. She met the love of her life while singing in the church choir. She married Matt Ottis in 1952 when he returned from the army. They raised four daughters.

Her husband of 62 years, Matthias John Ottis Jr. preceded her in death in 2014, she was also preceded in death by her parents Willie and Ella Maerz, grandson Christopher Harton, as well as sisters Genevieve Maerz, Ellen Vickery, Betty Ann and Daniel Krenek, brother Wilbur Maerz, niece Mary Wileen Vickery, and nephew Kenny Krenek.

Survivors include daughters Yvonne (Sam) Evans, Mary Ottis, Sharon(Gary) Harton, and Melinda (Thad) Bujnoch; grandchildren, Kimberly(Brendan) Smith, Katy(Walt) Wendler, Erica, Ashley and Jacob Harton, Kacie Rosser, Kari (Kyle) Eppler, Ryan Denby, Sarah (Dusty) Rogers, Rachel (John) Ganz, great-grandchildren Landon McMillan, Blaise Smith, Ava Wendler, Kyle and Luke Rogers; brother-in-law Willis Vickery, sister-in-law Eleanor Maerz, brother and sister-in-law Harold and Margaret Ottis and countless cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Her hobbies included reading the comics-especially Blondie, playing Solitaire and dominoes, baking her famous Swedish Tea Ring, and family get-togethers. Her family was her world. Nothing pleased her more than surprise visits from her beloved grandchildren. She fervently supported her girls through 4-H, FHA, MCFLA, and FFA. She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Bay City and a charter member of both the El Campo and Bay City Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 5PM until 7:00PM Sunday at Taylor Brothers Funeral Home with a rosary being recited at 6:00. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Monday, May 1, 2017 at Holy Cross Catholic Church with Fathers Greg Korenek and Michael Rother and Monsignor Casey concelebrating. Interment will follow in Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery near Van Vleck. Pallbearers will be Harold Ottis, Jr., Frank Ottis, Michael Maerz, Cole Dietrich, Hadden Dietrich, Jr., James Vincek, Chuck Abshier and Mitch Abshier. Honorary pallbearers will be her sisters in CDA.

The family would like to give special thanks to Wilada Green, Carrie Mills, and the staff of SPJST Nursing Home for improving her quality of life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Holy Cross School Library or the CDA scholarship fund. Clarice valued education and her children and grandchildren followed in her footsteps and shared her passion.