Ines Mõttus Kerra was born on July 31, 1929, in Voru, Estonia, to Johan and Olga Tonisson Mõttus. She passed away in her home in Cambridge, Ohio, on January 7, 2026 at the age of 96, surrounded by family.
Ines held many fond memories of her childhood, including swimming, playing with her brother and neighborhood friends, and being on the receiving end of many pranks from her brother. When she was 10 years old, while living with her parents and brother, her beloved home country of Estonia was invaded by the Soviet Union. Both her father and brother were taken from their home. She would never see her father again, as he perished soon after in a concentration camp. It would be 52 years before she saw her brother Juri again; he had been forcibly deported to Siberia and was unable to reunite with her until after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
Life became extraordinarily difficult for Ines and her mother in the years that followed. They eventually sought asylum in Germany before immigrating together to the United States in 1947.
After arriving in the United States, Ines met and married Valter Kerra of Estonia. Together they had one daughter, Tiiu Kaarin. They settled in Cambria, California, where they built a life together. Valter owned a Chinese antiquities shop and dove off the coast in search of precious jade, while Ines worked as a bank teller. She was deeply proud to become an American citizen and to contribute to her adopted country, while keeping her Estonian culture in her heart throughout her life.
She was widowed in 1981 at the age of 52. Following the L.A. riots in 1992, Ines moved with her family to Ohio, where she lived until 2008, then relocated to Texas with family until 2021, before returning once again to Ohio. There, she would spend the remainder of her life. She enjoyed traveling back to Estonia during the summers, baking, cooking, knitting, needlework, and reading.
She is survived by her daughter, Tiiu Eckelberry; her grandsons Martin (Christi) Eckelberry of Brandon, Mississippi and Matt (Rachel) Eckelberry of Cambridge, Ohio; and her great-grandchildren Martin Eckelberry of Athens, Ohio; Ashton (Abby) Eckelberry of Marietta, Ohio; and Taivas, Rider, and Everly Eckelberry of Cambridge, Ohio. She is also survived by a nephew, Jaanus Mõttus.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents Johan & Julie Vater Mõttus and Mihkel & Lidia Nikiferoff Tonisson of Estonia; her parents, Johan and Olga Mõttus; her brother Juri (Aino) Mõttus; her husband, Valter Kerra; and her son-in-law, Martin Eckelberry of Graysville, Ohio.
Those who knew Ines best will remember her strength and courage, her firm belief in doing what is right, her loyalty to family, getting worked up while watching Fox News, baking the best Christmas cookies, her delicious piroukad, paskha, and rosolje, and knitting blankets and scarves for her great-grandchildren. At her final Christmas gathering with family, she shared that her greatest gift of all was the treasure of having such a wonderful family.
At Ines's request, no services will be held. Her family will honor her privately.
Ines's online guest book may be viewed and signed at www.bundy-lawfuneralhome.com .