Released by Southerland Funeral Home …
He was born Louie Edward Cotton to Joseph Johnson Cotton and Callie Jane Faulk Cotton on November 27, 1929, in Samson, Alabama. Louie was preceded in death by his beloved wife Mary and beloved daughter, Janet Diane Cotton, two brothers J. T. Cotton, and Robert Lee Pippin, and sister Hazel Jeanette Cotton Howell. He is survived by his children, Deborah (Jonas), Craig (Ellen), and Gina (Terrill), grandchildren Joan, Jason (Maria), Jana (Lee) Brianna (Chase) and great-grandchildren Devyn, Karys and Kadyn. Two sisters Rebecca Harrison and Lucille Strickland and a special Brother-in-law Bill Howell.
How do you honor a man that was your whole life? Our daddy was always there for us, even when we were stubborn and stupid. He knew the correct thing to say when we were sad and always encouraged us when we tried new adventures. Our “Daddy” was the definition of a father.
He cared for all of us children, even as infants. Back when I was born it was unheard of a father changing diapers, etc. for their little ones. I’m the oldest and the first to give him a gray hair, actually when I was less than an hour old. He was standing at the window admiring his new little daughter, when I suddenly pushed myself up on all fours and rolled toward the edge of the dressing table, he banged on the glass so hard that the nurse turned and caught me as I was leaving the table. She had been a nurse for over 20 plus years in the nursery and told my dad that had never ever happened before. My sister, Jan drank kerosene at the age of 18 months and was in an oxygen tent for 18 hours, dad always said he lost her twice. Third, Craig came along six years after Jan and became dads lifelong fishing buddy. Finally, the baby Gina was born 3 years after Craig and she lived with or beside our mom and dad for her entire life.
Our daddy was a very hands on daddy, he helped care for us but his favorite thing to do was to come home from work and play outside with us. He always had a candy bar or two tucked in his shirt pocket.
Daddy was a worker his entire life and taught that work ethic to his four children and his four grandchildren. Daddy worked on the family farm as a little boy at the age of five he would work along side his daddy and his older brother, J.T. He would plow, help plant, milk cows, feed chickens, and anything else that granddaddy needed him to do. When he was five or six he would take his gun and three shells into the swamp area to bring home meat for the family. He was an avid fisherman and hunter. One of daddy’s favorite past times was playing dominoes. He could add those numbers up so fast we couldn’t keep up with him.
Daddy served three years in Okinawa, Japan in the Army during the Korean War as a telephone lineman. When he returned home he met and married the love of his life, our mom Mary. There have been many versions of how they first met, but I believe the one and only thing that matters is that it was love at first sight, and the marriage lasted for 67 plus years.
We lived on Cotton Lane in Southport for approximately fourteen years and those are mine and Jan’s childhood memories. Gina and Craig were pretty young but I know they remember those carefree days too. We moved to Springfield in 1969, mom and dad purchased Cotton’s Grocery, Game Room and Service Station.
Daddy worked at Tyndall Air Force Base from 1952 to 1985 as a civilian until he retired at the age of 55. Daddy was a supervisor of the Battery Shop at an early age – not bad for a farm boy from Alabama. Over the years many older dear friends of his either retired or passed away and their shops became daddy’s additional domains.
My daddy was never the type to toot his own horn, but my dad served under General Douglas MacArthur and when he and I were sitting around talking about old memories he asked me if it would be appropriate to mention his meeting Mrs. Douglas MacArthur in 1969. Of course, I said yes, so here is the sweetest story, it’s an eye-witness account because I was part of it. My dad was very good friends with Colonel Smith for many years at Tyndall AFB, well his sister-in-law was Jean MacArthur, second wife of the general. My dad was the only Civilian who had a scheduled private meeting that visit. My dad was dressed in a new white shirt and navy-blue dress slacks and I got to purchase a new navy blue dress and shoes for the occasion. When the official cars arrived at my dads shop there was so much brass we were nearly blinded. She was a very gracious lady and thanked my dad for his service and appreciated his love for her husband. She told dad that the colonel said, “Cotton” is the best. Little did he know we children already knew “Our daddy “was the best. Us four children were blessed with two award winning parents.
Daddy and I spent many a day on the Choctawhatchee River fishing and discussing life’s mysteries. My dad talked about his daddy on these trips. I believe he felt the loss of his dad more than the other children. I just hope and pray I can remember the stories he told me. I would like to write a book of these stories for his grandchildren to know what it was like growing up on a farm in the early 20th century. It’s hard to believe it took all day to go to town on a horse and buggy to sell peanuts and cotton. Today that 8-hour ordeal takes about 12 minutes.
Daddy was a man of very few words but when he talked it was for a purpose. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren more than anything. His love and cherished memories will forever live in our hearts. We all agreed this song was written for our daddy. He will be missed by anyone who was blessed to know him.
“Daddy’s Hands”
Daddy’s hands were soft and kind, When I was crying.
Daddy’s hands were hard as Steel when I’d done wrong.
Daddy’s hands weren’t always gentle, but I’ve come to
Understand, there was always love in Daddy’s hands.
Love you daddy, good bye until we meet again.
Graveside funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at Evergreen Memorial Gardens with Rev. Rick Blackerby officiating. Military honors will be accorded at graveside.