Laurel Brinkerhoff Cottam, 83, long-time Mesa resident, died at home Saturday, July 1, 2006. She passed away peacefully in her favorite chair, surrounded by family members. She was born Nov. 23, 1922 in Glendale, Utah, into a sheep and cattle ranching family. She showed an early talent for music and at age 10 served as organist for the Glendale War of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her feet didn’t reach the foot pedals, so a boy from the congregation was enlisted to sit under the pump organ and operate the pedals. In her teens she became expert at typing and shorthand and took a steno job to pay for her education at Dixie College in St. George. In 1942 she married Mason McAllister Cottam, a local music teacher who had gone to California to work for Douglas Aircraft during World War II. They were married in Las Vegas and later sealed in the St. George Temple. After the war they moved to Fredonia, Arizona, where she worked as a secretary for Kaibab Lumber and Mason taught school and piloted private planes for Kaibab. One the side, the couple formed a dance band – Laurel on piano, Mason on bass – and played for events throughout southern Utah and northern Arizona. They moved to Mesa in 1957. Mason was a school guidance counselor and Laurel worked 30 years as an executive accounting secretary for AiResearch (now Honeywell). She was dedicated to her church and served as pianist and organist over the years, most recently in Mesa 30th Ward’s primary. She is survived by her husband, six children and 14 grandchildren. Her sons and their spouses; John and Danna Cottam and Thomas and Carolyn Cottam of Mesa, James Christopher and Kristina Cottam of Gilbert and Howard and Julie Cottam of Escondido, Calif. Her daughters and their spouses: Mary and Tom Speropolus of Mesa and Linda and Clark Hoyt of Great Falls, VA. She was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Debra Cottam. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 7, 2006 from 6-8:00 p.m., Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ. Services will be held Saturday, July 8, 2006 at 10:00 a.m., LDS Mesa East Stake Center, 2228 E. Brown Rd., Mesa, AZ with visitation one-hour prior to services. Burial at Green Acres Cemetery, Scottsdale, AZ.

(Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, Thursday, July 6, 2006)