Gary E. Cotton

Little Falls – Gary E. “Spotsie” “Cotton Balls” Cotton, 61, of Little Falls passed away peacefully on Sunday January 24, 2021 at Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, NY.

He was born August 28, 1959 in Little Falls the son of Ralph Cotton and the late Joan (Stafford) Cotton. Gary was a graduate of Little Falls High School, class of 1977.

Gary shared a union of 10 years before uniting in marriage to Maureen (Molly) Bronson on June 2, 2001 at the Oak Ridge Free United Methodist Church in Herkimer.

He ran the family farm since his teenage years, all while working for Richard Obreza Trucking for 34 years.

Gary was a member of Salisbury Ridgerunners Club, Dolgeville Rod and Gun Club, and at one time a member of Ilion Snowdrifters and Shumaker Mountain Club. He also was a member of the Elks Lodge, past member of the Moose Lodge and the Farm Bureau.

At one time, Gary worked for Dutcher Comstock and the Town of Little Falls.

Gary enjoyed riding snowmobiles, especially with his friends on Wednesdays. He also enjoyed riding motorcycles with the group, Rick’s Riders for their annual ride.

Gary very much enjoyed partying, dancing, and having a beer with friends, no matter the place or time. He also looked forward to their annual Halloween party even though his wife wouldn’t tell him what he was going to be until five minutes before getting ready. He enjoyed having a beer after work with his co-workers. He thought the world of his bosses, Dick and Matt Obreza.

He enjoyed going on trips with his children and grandchildren to Washington, DC, Georgia, Thousand Islands, and Niagara Falls. Gary liked their annual “hunting” trips to camp with his son and friends at their family camp in Jersyfield. Gary cherished his collection of Moline tractors. Everybody loves his spread of word by his well known paper “The Cotton Gazette” Gary’s famous sayings were “you breed em – you feed em” and “waters for washing”. He always enjoyed taking his children in the milk truck with him.

Gary had many friends too many to mention, including his long time best friends, Randy Kast, Harry Comstock, and Mitch Lanphere.

He enjoyed horseback riding and his time spent at the family camp on Canadarago Lake. Whether at Randy Kast’s garage, or at Obreza Trucking, on the trails, a beer or two were always in place. Most of all, Gary loved his food, he was spoiled by his wife's good cooking.

Survivors include his wife, Maureen (Molly); his father, Ralph of Little Falls; his daughter, AnneMarie (Ben) Pollard of Georgia, Brenda Mower of Ilion, Justin Mower of Lake Luzurne, daughter – in –law, Erin Cotton of Herkimer; his grandchildren, Matthew & Tristan Cotton of Herkimer, Olivia, Benjamin and Gabriel Pollard of Georgia, Ayden, Elizabeth, Preston and Clayton Mower of Ilion and Oliver Gerber of Middlegrove. His siblings, Linda ( Harold ) Comstock, Bob (Diane) Cotton, Donald (Sylvia) Cotton, Tom (Shelly) Cotton all of Little Falls; his aunts and uncles, Dick and Rosemary L’Italien of Maryland, Patricia Bauer of Herkimer; cousins, including Mark (Carol) Calicchia and Marcia Calicchia of Albany;  and many nieces and nephews; and his canine companion, Roscoe.

Gary was pre-deceased by his beloved son, Matthew on July 26, 2020, his mother, Joan Cotton in 2015; paternal grandparents, Robert & Ruth Cotton, maternal grandparents, Donald & Minnie Stafford, and his special canine companions, Nia, M&M, and Toto.

The family will be receiving relatives and friends on Friday January 29, 2021 from 5 – 8 pm at the Vincent A. Enea Funeral Service, (next to NBT Bank), 527 E. Albany St., Herkimer, NY. Due to the current COVID 19 issues, facemask, social distancing and limitation of 10 guests at a time to pay their respects to the family will be enforced.  Graveside services will take place on Saturday January 30, 2021 at 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Herkimer, facemask and social distancing is required.

All memorial contribution may be made to either the American Heart Association, PO Box 417005 Boston, MA 02241-7005 or to Herkimer County BOCES Dollars for Scholars, 352 Gros Blvd., Herkimer, NY 13350.  Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.