Carolyn Jane (Cotner) Fast, 91, died peacefully on Oct. 13, 2025, at the Hearth & Home assisted-living community, surrounded by her beloved children and their spouses. Carolyn was born in Van Wert on Jan. 21, 1934, as the only child of the late Wilbur and Edna (Runser) Cotner.

Carolyn was a 1952 graduate of Van Wert High School and attended Miami University. While she had been employed by Hallmark Incorporated, Carolyn was also a prodigious basketweaver, constructing more than 8,200 baskets throughout the second half of her life. She often spent weekends selling her baskets at craft shows and weaving with other ladies. Carolyn served many years as a pianist at the former Haviland Baptist Church, and she later attended Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert. Carolyn wrote that she wanted to be remembered as a person who enjoyed life – "an honest, fun, creative and pleasant person." Over the years, she loved traveling with cousins and other relatives to destinations like Wisconsin, North Carolina and Vermont, trying new restaurants, and playing cards and games. In her later years, Carolyn always had a new game ready to entertain her grandchildren and great-grandchildren at the holidays.Carolyn credited her mother-in-law Marie Fast for teaching her how to cook, and no family holiday was complete without Carolyn's famous cinnamon rolls. Most of all, though, Carolyn said she wanted to be remembered as a good mother to her four children.

She is survived by one daughter, Susan (Michael) Brady of Payne, Ohio, and two sons, Steven (Mary Jane) Fast of Haviland, Ohio, and Michael (Jill) Fast of Van Wert, Ohio. One son, Scott Fast, preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her former husband, John Fast, and by her step-mother Forrest (Oaks) Wydallis Cotner and step-sister Elizabeth Wydallis. Also surviving are eight grandchildren: Stephanie (Jason) Cox and Kimberly (Gino) Farnham, Nathaniel (Rebecca) Fast, Brian (Jessica) Brady, Austin Fast, Logan Fast, Zane Fast, and Jace Fast. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren: Brady Cox, Andrew Cox, Madeleine Brady, Jack Brady, Lilly Fast, and Scarlett Fast.

Please join us to celebrate Carolyn's life at a visitation from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at Cowan & Son Funeral Home (616 S. Washington St., Van Wert, Ohio). A memorial service will immediately follow at 11 a.m., officiated by Pastor Matt McGovern of Trinity Friends Church. Interment will be at Pleasant View Cemetery in Latty Township, Paulding County.

Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Friends Church at 605 N. Franklin St. Van Wert, Ohio 45891.

Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded at cowanfuneralhome.com, Tribute Wall.