James Gustave Cott, 95, passed away Monday, August 28, 2023 with his loving family at his side. He was born April 11th, 1928 to Carl Gustave & Bertha Minnie Martha Cott. He was raised on their family farm in Woodbine, KS with his two sisters Marietta & Madeline.
He attended Pleasant Valley grade school, a rural one room school close to their farm. Then Woodbine high school his freshman year. In order to attend high school in Woodbine, Jim would ride his horse 5 miles one way. For his sophomore year his family moved one mile south of Lincolnville Kansas to their family farm.
In spring of 1953, Jim Cott met the love of his life Verla Mae Bernhart. Their lives were blessed in holy marriage, October 2nd 1953 at the Strassburg Baptist Church, located near the Marion Reservoir. They started their married life in a little rock house one mile south of Lincolnville, KS. There they raised four children; Alan (Alice) Cott of Celina, TX, Jani Cott of Salina KS, Ben (Judy) Cott of Goddard, KS & Teresa (Tom) Drane of Salina KS. From these children their marriage was blessed with 15 grandchildren & 25 great-grandchildren with two more on the way.
Jim & Verla raised their family with strong faith and were active members of the Lincolnville United Methodist church. Their humble faith led to volunteering and sharing of the gifts that God had provided them. These gifts included Jim being a Lay speaker traveling to many area churches in the Tri-County area. He served on church & school boards and was active in his community.
As Jim entered retirement, he answered a calling to open his life to compassionately loving others. This included entering the Big Brother program as one of the oldest Big Brothers at the time. Through this relationship he developed a cherished lifelong bond with his little brother. Hospice was another call answered in which he would come into homes of the dying, unselfishly giving of his time, love and understanding. Jim also had been blessed by entering into a lifelong friendship with a young man who had been confined to a wheelchair since childhood. This friendship was one of the most cherished relationships of his life!
As age progressed, Jim was facing 24-hour care due to weakness of body and entered into a Holiday Resort in June of 2022. While he was there, he developed many friendships with both his care providers and residents alike. He enters into the heavenly kingdom leaving an amazing example of what it is like to be a humble servant of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Visitation will be Wednesday August 30th 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Roselawn Heights Memorial Chapel, 1920 East Crawford, Salina KS. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church Salina KS, August 31st 2023. Senior Pastor Gideon Achi officiating. Following a lunch at the church the family will progress to the Lincolnville Kansas cemetery for burial at 1:30 p.m.
The family is deeply grateful for the compassionate care received by Salina Regional Hospital, Holiday Resort & Hospice of Salina. Suggested Memorials gifts may be made to First United Methodist Church &/or Hospice of Salina.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Roselawn Burial and Cremation Services. Online condolences may be sent to www.roselawnsalina.com.