James “Dude” Cotter, Lake Lafayette, MO passed away December 11, 2016 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Blue Springs, MO from a short battle with cancer.
James was born on July 11, 1928 to J. Oswald and Letha Cotter. On April 17, 1948, he married Thelma Eagleson and together celebrated 68 years of love, bliss and a little bickering where needed. James had two children, a son Dennis in 1948 and 6 years later, a daughter, Terry, was born.
Over the years, James retired two different times, the first being on July 1, 1990 from Gas Service Company after 37 years. After being home for a while, he quickly decided that retirement wasn’t his game and would work for several years at Holiday Lakes. In 1999, he began driving for Oats, Inc., driving a bus for the Odessa Senior Center. For those close to James, this came as a sheer shock. He was the perfect candidate: never a speeding ticket, never an accident. The shock was more due to the fact that each trip into town or up the highway, you knew exactly how he felt about any car passing him, how fast they were going, what they were doing, how they were doing and on and on. Just this past September, James retired a second time after 17 years. The stories he would come home with were priceless and he truly received great satisfaction from the people he served.
During his 88 years of life, James enjoyed many things: Saturday night dancing, playing cards with neighbors and friends, woodworking and tools, working and tinkering outside and helping around the lake community. He loved watching t.v and sports, especially the KC Chiefs, KC Royals or MU Tigers. He loved those three teams, well it was more of a love/hate relationship, but no matter how bad they were playing he watched till the end. It was always quite clear that he and the t.v. remote were like best friends. There were times he literally operated it in his sleep perfectly, flipping through channels on a dime and the mute button worked like a jewel; any mention of the KU Jayhawks and he would just look at the remote it seemed and the t.v fell silent.
James is survived by his wife of the home; son Dennis (Judy), Columbia, MO; daughter Terry Rathbone, Odessa, MO; Granddaughters Melissa Cotter, Broken Arrow, OK, Vanessa Blankinship, Lansing, KS; Staci (Jason) Close, Wilmington, OH; Grandson Danny (Kelley) Logan, Higginsville, MO and Great-Grandchildren Brandon and Derrick Bradshaw; Aubrey and Trey Blankinship; Madison and Brody Close; Landen, Jace and Tucker Logan; Sister Norma (Jay McConnville), Holden, MO; Brother Gary (Shirley) Cotter, Belton, MO; two sister in laws, two brother in laws and nieces and nephews. Honorary pallbearers are Troy and Scott Cotter; Billy McConnville; C.J Asbury; Joe Morgan He was preceded in death by his mother and father; sisters Josephine and Mary Jane; brother Bill and Great-Granddaughter Nicole.
James was a very simple, quiet, laid back man and never wanted to be center of attention.
Visitation will be held at Floral Hills Funeral Home, KCMO on December 19 at 1pm with a short service following at 2pm.He wouldn’t have wanted anyone to stand in the cold, snow or wind, therefore, no graveside services. Burial will be at Floral Hills East Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions are welcome to the Wounded Warriors Project.
James was born on July 11, 1928 to J. Oswald and Letha Cotter. On April 17, 1948, he married Thelma Eagleson and together celebrated 68 years of love, bliss and a little bickering where needed. James had two children, a son Dennis in 1948 and 6 years later, a daughter, Terry, was born.
Over the years, James retired two different times, the first being on July 1, 1990 from Gas Service Company after 37 years. After being home for a while, he quickly decided that retirement wasn’t his game and would work for several years at Holiday Lakes. In 1999, he began driving for Oats, Inc., driving a bus for the Odessa Senior Center. For those close to James, this came as a sheer shock. He was the perfect candidate: never a speeding ticket, never an accident. The shock was more due to the fact that each trip into town or up the highway, you knew exactly how he felt about any car passing him, how fast they were going, what they were doing, how they were doing and on and on. Just this past September, James retired a second time after 17 years. The stories he would come home with were priceless and he truly received great satisfaction from the people he served.
During his 88 years of life, James enjoyed many things: Saturday night dancing, playing cards with neighbors and friends, woodworking and tools, working and tinkering outside and helping around the lake community. He loved watching t.v and sports, especially the KC Chiefs, KC Royals or MU Tigers. He loved those three teams, well it was more of a love/hate relationship, but no matter how bad they were playing he watched till the end. It was always quite clear that he and the t.v. remote were like best friends. There were times he literally operated it in his sleep perfectly, flipping through channels on a dime and the mute button worked like a jewel; any mention of the KU Jayhawks and he would just look at the remote it seemed and the t.v fell silent.
James is survived by his wife of the home; son Dennis (Judy), Columbia, MO; daughter Terry Rathbone, Odessa, MO; Granddaughters Melissa Cotter, Broken Arrow, OK, Vanessa Blankinship, Lansing, KS; Staci (Jason) Close, Wilmington, OH; Grandson Danny (Kelley) Logan, Higginsville, MO and Great-Grandchildren Brandon and Derrick Bradshaw; Aubrey and Trey Blankinship; Madison and Brody Close; Landen, Jace and Tucker Logan; Sister Norma (Jay McConnville), Holden, MO; Brother Gary (Shirley) Cotter, Belton, MO; two sister in laws, two brother in laws and nieces and nephews. Honorary pallbearers are Troy and Scott Cotter; Billy McConnville; C.J Asbury; Joe Morgan He was preceded in death by his mother and father; sisters Josephine and Mary Jane; brother Bill and Great-Granddaughter Nicole.
James was a very simple, quiet, laid back man and never wanted to be center of attention.
Visitation will be held at Floral Hills Funeral Home, KCMO on December 19 at 1pm with a short service following at 2pm.He wouldn’t have wanted anyone to stand in the cold, snow or wind, therefore, no graveside services. Burial will be at Floral Hills East Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions are welcome to the Wounded Warriors Project.
James “Dude” Cotter, Lake Lafayette, MO passed away December 11, 2016 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Blue Springs, MO from a short battle with cancer.
James was born on July 11, 1928 to J. Oswald and Letha Cotter. On April 17, 1948, he married Thelma Eagleson and together celebrated 68 years of love, bliss and a little bickering where needed. James had two children, a son Dennis in 1948 and 6 years later, a daughter, Terry, was born.
Over the years, James retired two different times, the first being on July 1, 1990 from Gas Service Company after 37 years. After being home for a while, he quickly decided that retirement wasn’t his game and would work for several years at Holiday Lakes. In 1999, he began driving for Oats, Inc., driving a bus for the Odessa Senior Center. For those close to James, this came as a sheer shock. He was the perfect candidate: never a speeding ticket, never an accident. The shock was more due to the fact that each trip into town or up the highway, you knew exactly how he felt about any car passing him, how fast they were going, what they were doing, how they were doing and on and on. Just this past September, James retired a second time after 17 years. The stories he would come home with were priceless and he truly received great satisfaction from the people he served.
During his 88 years of life, James enjoyed many things: Saturday night dancing, playing cards with neighbors and friends, woodworking and tools, working and tinkering outside and helping around the lake community. He loved watching t.v and sports, especially the KC Chiefs, KC Royals or MU Tigers. He loved those three teams, well it was more of a love/hate relationship, but no matter how bad they were playing he watched till the end. It was always quite clear that he and the t.v. remote were like best friends. There were times he literally operated it in his sleep perfectly, flipping through channels on a dime and the mute button worked like a jewel; any mention of the KU Jayhawks and he would just look at the remote it seemed and the t.v fell silent.
James is survived by his wife of the home; son Dennis (Judy), Columbia, MO; daughter Terry Rathbone, Odessa, MO; Granddaughters Melissa Cotter, Broken Arrow, OK, Vanessa Blankinship, Lansing, KS; Staci (Jason) Close, Wilmington, OH; Grandson Danny (Kelley) Logan, Higginsville, MO and Great-Grandchildren Brandon and Derrick Bradshaw; Aubrey and Trey Blankinship; Madison and Brody Close; Landen, Jace and Tucker Logan; Sister Norma (Jay McConnville), Holden, MO; Brother Gary (Shirley) Cotter, Belton, MO; two sister in laws, two brother in laws and nieces and nephews. Honorary pallbearers are Troy and Scott Cotter; Billy McConnville; C.J Asbury; Joe Morgan He was preceded in death by his mother and father; sisters Josephine and Mary Jane; brother Bill and Great-Granddaughter Nicole.
James was a very simple, quiet, laid back man and never wanted to be center of attention.
Visitation will be held at Floral Hills Funeral Home, KCMO on December 19 at 1pm with a short service following at 2pm.He wouldn’t have wanted anyone to stand in the cold, snow or wind, therefore, no graveside services. Burial will be at Floral Hills East Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions are welcome to the Wounded Warriors Project.
James was born on July 11, 1928 to J. Oswald and Letha Cotter. On April 17, 1948, he married Thelma Eagleson and together celebrated 68 years of love, bliss and a little bickering where needed. James had two children, a son Dennis in 1948 and 6 years later, a daughter, Terry, was born.
Over the years, James retired two different times, the first being on July 1, 1990 from Gas Service Company after 37 years. After being home for a while, he quickly decided that retirement wasn’t his game and would work for several years at Holiday Lakes. In 1999, he began driving for Oats, Inc., driving a bus for the Odessa Senior Center. For those close to James, this came as a sheer shock. He was the perfect candidate: never a speeding ticket, never an accident. The shock was more due to the fact that each trip into town or up the highway, you knew exactly how he felt about any car passing him, how fast they were going, what they were doing, how they were doing and on and on. Just this past September, James retired a second time after 17 years. The stories he would come home with were priceless and he truly received great satisfaction from the people he served.
During his 88 years of life, James enjoyed many things: Saturday night dancing, playing cards with neighbors and friends, woodworking and tools, working and tinkering outside and helping around the lake community. He loved watching t.v and sports, especially the KC Chiefs, KC Royals or MU Tigers. He loved those three teams, well it was more of a love/hate relationship, but no matter how bad they were playing he watched till the end. It was always quite clear that he and the t.v. remote were like best friends. There were times he literally operated it in his sleep perfectly, flipping through channels on a dime and the mute button worked like a jewel; any mention of the KU Jayhawks and he would just look at the remote it seemed and the t.v fell silent.
James is survived by his wife of the home; son Dennis (Judy), Columbia, MO; daughter Terry Rathbone, Odessa, MO; Granddaughters Melissa Cotter, Broken Arrow, OK, Vanessa Blankinship, Lansing, KS; Staci (Jason) Close, Wilmington, OH; Grandson Danny (Kelley) Logan, Higginsville, MO and Great-Grandchildren Brandon and Derrick Bradshaw; Aubrey and Trey Blankinship; Madison and Brody Close; Landen, Jace and Tucker Logan; Sister Norma (Jay McConnville), Holden, MO; Brother Gary (Shirley) Cotter, Belton, MO; two sister in laws, two brother in laws and nieces and nephews. Honorary pallbearers are Troy and Scott Cotter; Billy McConnville; C.J Asbury; Joe Morgan He was preceded in death by his mother and father; sisters Josephine and Mary Jane; brother Bill and Great-Granddaughter Nicole.
James was a very simple, quiet, laid back man and never wanted to be center of attention.
Visitation will be held at Floral Hills Funeral Home, KCMO on December 19 at 1pm with a short service following at 2pm.He wouldn’t have wanted anyone to stand in the cold, snow or wind, therefore, no graveside services. Burial will be at Floral Hills East Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions are welcome to the Wounded Warriors Project.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
