Lois Iona Gunn Cotten

Lois I. Gunn Cotten, 93, passed away at Seven Hills Health and Rehabilitation on February 17, 2014. She was born on July 11, 1920 in Tallahassee to Charles Wesley Gunn, Sr. and Clara Moore Gunn. Mrs. Cotten was from the Leon County pioneer families of the Moore’s and Bradford’s. She joined a Girl Scout Troop in 1927. She was in the May Party Court in 1937. She graduated from Leon High School in 1937 1/2 and from Florida State College for Women in 1942. She played violin in the FSCW orchestra. She was a teacher at Gadsden County High School in Quincy, Florida in 1942-43, teaching English. She and her father owned Leon Realty and Insurance Company beginning in 1940. Mrs. Cotten was one of the first female real estate brokers in the Tallahassee area and was active in real estate until her health declined in 2005. She was known for her strong work ethics, love of gardening, voracious reader, southern lady, a great sense of humor, her comical antics and strong love for family. She spent many summers at Lake Junaluska Camp in North Carolina and many enjoyable times with family at Saint Teresa Beach in Franklin County, Florida. She was raised in Trinity United Methodist Church and was very active in many groups within the church. She participated in PTA, Girl Scout leaders, Home Room mothers, March of Dimes Drives, a Grey Lady and was always a strong participant in her three daughter’s lives. For the past 42 years she was an active member of Faith Presbyterian Church. Lois was a wonderful wife, mother and mentor to many. She was preceded in death by her husband who was her high school sweetheart, former prominent Tallahassee attorney John Howell Cotten, her parents, her brother and sister-in-law Honorable and Mrs. Charles Wesley (Mary) Gunn, Jr., her in-laws Hubert Theodore (Mary Alice Patterson) Cotten, Sr., her brother-in-laws Dr. Bennett Dixion (Mary) Cotten, Sr., Hubert Theodore Cotton, Jr., nephew Dr. Bennett Dixion Cotten, Jr. and her first grandchild John Kenneth Cotten Wagner. She leaves to cherish her memory daughters Carol Ann (Dr. Louis) Wagner of The Woodlands, Texas, Eva Claire Cotten of Dayton, Ohio and Mary Alice (Michael) Linzy of Tallahassee. In addition she is also survived by four grandchildren Charles Henry Wagner and Anna Marie Wagner of Austin, Texas, John Wesley Hicks of San Diego, California and Alice Renee Linzy of Tallahassee; also, one great-granddaughter on the way, Elizabeth Renee Linzy; special nephews Charles Wesley (Beverly) Gunn, III of Richmond, Virginia and David Bates Cotten of Albany, Georgia; special nieces Annhorner (Craig) Truett of Richmond, Virginia and Mary Linda Cotten of Albany, Georgia, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; friends for many years, Walter Crawford and Karen Kinard. A private family service will be held at Bevis Funeral Home on Friday, February 21st at 3:00 pm, with burial following at Oakland Cemetery. Pallbearers are Chuck Lang, Murray Moore, Brad Parker, Frank Shaw (who are cousins), Charles Wagner and John Hicks. A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 22nd, 3:00 PM at Faith Presbyterian Church with a reception following in parlor provided by Faith Presbyterian Women and Chaires United Methodist Women. Charitable donations may be sent to Covenant Hospice, 1921 Capital Circle NE, Tallahassee, Florida 32308 or Faith Presbyterian Church, 2200 N. Meridian Road, Tallahassee. Heartfelt thanks to Covenant Hospice, Seven Hills and Sandra Heys. Bevis Funeral Home, 850-385-2193, www.bevisfh.com, is assisting the family with their arrangements.

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Lois Iona Gunn Cotten

July 11, 1920 - February 17, 2014