Obituary of Leo Keith Cotter

Leo Keith (Buzz) Cotter, beloved dad and grandpa, passed away on Saturday, August 25, 2007 at the age of 85 years. Buzz was born on January 31, 1922 in Vegreville, AB and raised on a farm north of Viking as a part of a large and loving family. He joined the Navy during World War II and served on the HMCS Algonquin. Following the war, he returned to Alberta where he began working in the booming oil patch and continued to do so until 1983. Buzz married Kay Rutherford on November 5, 1948. During their married life, they resided in many small towns in Alberta. They raised their family in Red Deer and moved to Calgary in 1967 when Buzz was transferred to the Calgary office of Bow Valley Industries. In his last year of work with Bow Valley, he and Kay lived in Jakarta, Indonesia. Their retirement years were spent travelling, visiting family and friends and spending time at their cottage at Sylvan Lake. In his spare time, Buzz enjoyed wood-working, welding, gardening, and watching sporting events. Buzz is survived by his two loving daughters, Colleen (Mac) Hann and their children, Derek and Lindsay; and Sharon (Jim) Mansfield and their children, Todd, Ryan and Shannon, all of Calgary; and his devoted son Terry (Stephanie) of Geraldton, West Australia. He is also survived by his sister Adelle; brother Jay; sisters-in-law, Jean, Shirley (Ted) and Ada; brother-in-law Don; and numerous nieces and nephews. Buzz was predeceased by his darling wife Kay in November 2005; and his siblings, June and Bob. Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S, Fish Creek Chapel (14441 Bannister Road S.E.) on Friday, August 31, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, c/o Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 1331 – 29 Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 4N2 Telephone: (403) 521-3433 or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Special thanks goes out to Unit 32 at the Foothills Medical Centre, staff of the Tom Baker Cancer Clinic, friends and staff at Lake Bonavista Village, as well as Dr. Christine Fletcher, a long-time caring family doctor to Buzz and Kay. In living memory of Buzz Cotter, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek Chapel, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD S.E. Telephone: (403) 256-9575.