Jill Annette Ehrhart passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of January 19, 2022, following a brief hospitalization for heart issues. Her favorite son (and only child), Jeff Ehrhart, and lifelong best friend, Heidi Wurm, were by her side.

Jill was born February 24, 1964, to Donald and Bonnie Ley at Bucyrus Community Hospital. Jill and her mother, Bonnie, shared an unbreakable bond that was special and genuine. We could all learn from their example of unconditional love. Jill and her mother, father, son, and mother-in-law are lifelong Good Hope Lutheran Church members. She enjoyed years of services, holidays, and WOW on Wednesdays serving her church. The only daughter out of three children, Jill, shared a loving, lifelong relationship with her two older brothers and their spouses, Tim (Debbie) Ley and Gregg (Charlene) Ley.

Jill graduated from Bucyrus High School in 1982. In August of that year, she married Steven, her husband of 39 years. It was a busy year for the young couple as they welcomed their son Jeffrey into the world on November 8, 1982. Jill and Steve beat the odds through good times and bad. They remained married for nearly four decades until Jill’s passing. Steve, Jill, and Jeff enjoyed many wonderful family vacations from the East coast to Yellowstone. They spent summer weekends at Apple Valley with their cousins and extended family, making countless memories together. The lake house, owned by beloved cousin Barb Ley Davidson and her father, Leo Ley, had an ever-open invitation for family and close friends.

Of all the roles Jill held in her life, her favorite was being Jeff’s mom. She was there for him unconditionally through the worst of times and in his shining moments. Jill always loved and supported him no matter what. Jill retired in 2021 from the Ohio State High Patrol (OSHP) as a decorated dispatcher, a job she fulfilled with great pride and conviction. She also spent several years working in Bucyrus City Schools as a favorite “lunch lady,” making lifelong memories and friends whom she considered like family throughout her career.

Jill loved her family above all else. She never missed a family gathering, party, dinner, or special celebration, as they brought her great joy. In 2018, Jill finally became a grandmother to her beloved grandson Buck Ehrhart. In just three years, she gave every ounce of love to Buck, her baby boy. As he learned to talk, her favorite phrase to hear from Buck was, “I love you, Grandma Dill” (yes, Dill).

Following her retirement from OSHP, Jill bought her Florida house, where Buck visited on many occasions this past year, bringing her so much laughter and fun. She was so proud and excited to own her retirement home around the corner from her brother Gregg and sister-in-law Charlene. They shared countless adventures and “4 o’clocks” in her time there. She cherished those memories and spoke with happiness and gratitude every day about soaking up the sun and enjoying the pool, especially when her son, grandson, husband, mother, and friends would visit.

Jill will be remembered fondly and with smiles by more people than we can ever mention. She leaves behind her most treasured assets: her family. She was a beloved mother, spouse, sister, aunt, and a true friend to those closest to her: her husband Steven Ehrhart, son Jeff (Kylie) Ehrhart and grandson Buck, her father Donald Ley and mother Bonnie Ley, mother-in-law Judy Ehrhart and father-in-law Ralph Ehrhart, brothers Tim (Debbie) Ley, Gregg (Charlene) Ley, cousins Barb Ley Davidson (Tom), Cindy Snavely, Aunt Betty, nephews Neill Ley, Brian (Lexi)

Ley, Preston (Cassie Hessey) Ley, her nieces Tara Ley (who always held a special place in Jill’s heart) and Ashley Ley, great nieces, and nephew, and one of her closest friends and casino buddies (more like family), Sue Rothhaar. And, of course, her best friend since childhood – “sister” – second mother to Jeff: Heidi (Michael) Wurm and their children and spouses Sarah (Brad) Allgire, Seth (Casey) Wurm, and Hannah (Tyler) Jacobs.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, great aunts and uncles, and nephew Jacob Davidson.

I love you, Mom, and I promise to not live in the “grey area” of life as much! Love, Jeff.

*For the Florida friends and family, we will be having a “4-O’Clock” in the next day or so in her honor down here. A celebration of both her life and in celebration of the retirement party we never gave her, we will be hosting an open house soon in Ohio at the Bucyrus Elks Lodge #156. Jill was a former Lodge officer, volunteer, and member. We will post the date and time in the coming days.

There will be a Celebration of Life at Good Hope Church in Bucyrus on Thursday, January 27th at 4:00.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to:

The Jacob Davidson Memorial Scholarship Fund 14538 TWP HWY 44

Wharton, OH 43359

Or

Treasure Coast Hospice

5000 NW Dunn Rd, Fort Pierce, FL 34981 In memory of Jill Ehrhart