Russell Samuel Cotten

Russell Samuel Cotten, 68, died of natural causes Nov. 4, 2012, at his home in Palmer.

Russell was born July 7, 1944, in Fairbanks to Samuel and Kathryn Cotten.

He lived in Tenakee Springs, Douglas and Anchorage, but spent the majority of his life in his favorite town, Palmer.

Russell graduated from Palmer High School in 1962. He attended the University of Hawaii and graduated from Southern Oregon College in 1967.

Russell was a self-employed carpenter and a skilled well driller. He spent many years helping his father with the family well drilling business.

Russell was an avid reader of the sciences, aviation and the theater. He was a talented mechanic and loved the world of mathematics.

Russell had a great sense of humor and will be missed by his family and friends, particularly his life-long friends from Palmer and their unofficial Fraternal Order of the Raccoons.

Preceding him in death were his parents.

Surviving are his brothers, Sam (Martha) Cotton of Eagle River and Lamar Cotton of Anchorage; and sisters, Kate Cotten of Tucson, Ariz., and Eileen Jordan of Anchorage. Russell was also the uncle to Sam Cotten, Gus Cotten, Spencer Cotten, Nash Cotten, Matt Jordan and Molly Jordan, as well as the great-uncle to Wesley and Myles Jordan.

Services are at 4 p.m., Nov. 11 at the United Protestant Church in Palmer.

His family would like to thank the Palmer Senior Center and all of Russell’s friends and extended family for their love and support. A memorial donation can be made to the senior center in Palmer.