John A. Cotten Jr.

JOHN A. COTTEN JR.
EDNA - John A. Cotten Jr., of Edna, passed away Saturday, January 26, 2013, at the age of 77. He was born November 28, 1935, in Selma, Alabama, to the late John A., Sr. and Ruby Lucile Bentley Cotten.
John served in the U. S. Air Force from 1952 - 1956. He was the owner of John Cotton's Furniture store in Edna for 25 years. John also contributed his time and service to the Jackson County community in many ways. He was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 2007. John served on the Jackson County Hospital Board of Directors and was Board president in 2011. He was also named Rotarian of the Year and received the Paul Harris Fellow award. John was the Republican Party Chairman for Jackson County and served as president and member of the Jackson County Appraisal Board. He was on the LNRA Board of Directors and a Board member of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Carol Hafernick Cotten; daughters, Toni Gail Ballard, of Austin, Wilma Tracy Robinson and her husband, Nick, of Austin, and Johna Lucile Boone, also of Austin; sons, John A. Cotten, III and his wife Samantha, of Austin, and Christopher C. Cotten and his wife, Beth, of Austin; sister, Kathleen Kinard and her husband James, of Austin; He is also survived by eleven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
John is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Patricia Ann Green.
Visitation will be 5-7 pm, with Rosary at 7 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, at Oaklawn Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, January 30, 2013, at 10:00 am at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Edna. Reverend Michael Petering will be officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at St. Andrews Cemetery in Hillje, Texas.
Pallbearers will be Jack Terry, Jerry Crawford, Tom Slavik, Carl Wright, Mike Konarik, and Billy Bob Hale. Honorary Pallbearers will be Fred Jones, the LNRA Board of Directors and the Jackson County Hospital Board of Directors.
Arrangements are under the direction of Oaklawn Funeral Home in Edna, 361-782-2221.