Henry E. Cotter

Henry E. Cotter, age 73, of Grants Pass, died Sunday, March 13, 2011 at Highland House Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

A memorial service will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, March 17, 2011 at Hull & Hull Chapel. Private interment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Henry was born March 8, 1938 in Grants Pass to Everett & Bernice (Vahrenwald) Cotter. He was a Class of 1955 Grants Pass High School graduate. He served in the Oregon Army National Guard. In 1960 he married Emma Wright and they had two children before divorcing in 1967. On August 8, 1979 he married his wife, Golda “Ruth” and he helped raise her five children. For several years he worked as a janitor for Grants Pass School District #7. For 30 years he was a dryer tender at U.S. Forest Industries and as a young man lost his right eye in a chemical accident at the mill. He retired five years ago.

He was a member of RASCALS computer group and enjoyed dancing at the Senior Center.

His hobbies included computers, listening to police scanners, and fast cars.

Survivors include two daughters, Kelly Lee McDonald of Beaver Creek, Oregon and Ellen Eldora Nunez of Stayton, Oregon; four stepsons, Ray Hopkins, Robert Metcalf, David Metcalf, and John Metcalf; and a stepdaughter, Nikki Pegram; two brothers, Richard Glenn Cotter and Robert Gary Cotter both of Grants Pass, Oregon; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and 16 step-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Golda “Ruth” Cotter on April 23, 1999 and an infant daughter, Kathy Lee Cotter in 1962.