Theo Siegrist Botts

THEO SIEGRIST BOTTS Theo Botts passed away on September 29, 2025, at Lenoir Woods in Columbia, Missouri, at the age of 101. Theo Marie Siegrist was born in Meadville, Missouri (Linn County) in 1924 to Alphe Edward Siegrist and Theo Allie Fell Siegrist, who died following childbirth. She and her four siblings were raised by Alphe and her stepmother, Beth Siegrist. Theo was a graduate of Meadville High School as well as Chillicothe Business College. She and her husband, Robert Elgin Botts, lived and raised their three children in Southern California. Throughout her career, she worked as an administrative assistant at schools and colleges in California, including at California State University, Long Beach, and supporting the Chancellor at Pepperdine University in Malibu. After retirement, she returned to Missouri to be close to her sister, Ruth Collins, and to help care for her stepmother. In 2016, she moved to Bradford Manor at Lenoir Woods Assisted Living, following several years of residing in the Lenoir retirement community. Theo will be lovingly remembered and survived by her two children and their spouses, June Lane Arnette (Gary) of College Station, Texas, and Steven Edward Botts (Judith Mosley) of Asheville, North Carolina; one brother and his wife, Donald Siegrist (Charlene) of Lenexa, Kansas; her brother-in-law, Charles Novak of Denver, North Carolina; her sister-in-law Sarah Botts of Meadville, Missouri; six grandchildren, Thomas Botts, Jacqueline Botts, Julie Tatom, Richard Lane III, Eric Arnette, and Leslie Arnette; 13 great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Elgin Botts of Meadville; her son, James Robert Botts; three sisters, Ruth Collins, Jean Novak, and Joan Myers; her parents; and her stepmother. Theo was a member of the Fairview Road Church of Christ in Columbia. Church and family were her main interests, as well as supporting charities primarily devoted to children. Memorials to Botts Cemetery in Meadville may be left at or mailed to Wright Funeral Home, P.O. Box 496, Brookfield, MO 64628. She was blessed with a long life, good friends, and a positive approach to living.