Dawn Cotter McCullers, 81, Live Oak, passed away at dawn on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at her home.

Dawn was born in Haverhill, MA to Daniel Edward "Duke" and Myrtle Safford (Fuller) Cotter. When she was a young girl, she moved to the St. Petersburg/Tampa area with her mother and sister, Diane. Dawn graduated from Northeast High School and went on to St. Petersburg Junior College before dropping out to get married and start a family.

She moved to Live Oak in 1980 and busily involved herself in the community learning to can vegetables at the Coliseum and serving as a Pink Lady at the original Live Oak hospital. In her 40s, she discovered her calling- geriatric care. She spent the next 30 years serving the elderly in various capacities. She started as an assistant to the activities director at Surrey Place Convalescent Center when it first opened and eventually became the director. She loved interacting with the residents and using her creativity to help engage both residents and staff. She forged lifelong friendships working there. Later, she took a position as social services director at Suwannee Valley Nursing Center in Jasper, FL where she continued to strongly advocate for residents. She took time to sit with them and listen to their stories. She knew their backgrounds and their families, and she continued to honor them after their passing by attending many funerals over the years. Even after she retired, she continued to support the elderly. She served as a Long-Term Care Ombudsman for North Florida for 5 years. Later, she decided to go back to Surrey Place where she volunteered weekly leading residents in bingo and pokeno, and she would bring in her own nickels, so the residents could bet and play for money "to make it more fun them." She was quick-witted and clever. She loved to laugh and loved making others laugh. With her bright blue eyes and big smile, she randomly struck up conversations with people wherever she went- a characteristic that only intensified as she got older often making for entertaining adventures whenever she went out, especially for those who were with her.

Dawn was grounded in her Christian faith and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Live Oak.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, and her husband, Donald M. McCullers Sr.

She is survived by her four children: Michael (Anna) Gianeskis, John Gianeskis, Missy Gianeskis, and Paula (Jim) McCullers; 7 grandchildren: Beth (Adam) Young, Drew Gianeskis, Kerri Ratliff, Laura (Bryce) Bielec, Robert Hanson, Neil Gianeskis, and Charlie McCullers, and 8 great-grandchildren; along with 4 nieces and 3 nephews.

The family would also like to recognize her faithful, kind, and compassionate caregivers who made her last years at home not only possible, but enjoyable: Michele Brown, Tina Clarke, Tammie White, Jordan Dickerson, Derenda Timberlake, Julia Baker, and Logan Townsend.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, November 19th at the Chapel at Daniels Funeral Home.

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