James “Jim” Pierce Cotton III
1958-2016
James “Jim” Pierce Cotton III, age 57, of Gulf Breeze, Florida died May 10, 2016 surrounded by family and friends.
Jim was born Oct. 29, 1958 in Montgomery, Alabama to James Pierce Cotton Jr. and Janie Cotton. He moved to Gulf Breeze, Florida in elementary school. Jim was the oldest of four siblings.
Jim graduated from Gulf Breeze High School in 1977, where he was an outstanding player on the Dolphins varsity basketball team. Jim still holds several records at GBHS, including highest average points per game.
He attended the University of Florida on a basketball scholarship where he studied advertising. Jim’s career was in banking and finance in both Pensacola and the Mobile, Alabama area.
Outside of work, he was an avid fisherman who loved being on the water and vacationing in Key West with family and friends. He enjoyed being surrounded by all of his wonderful friends and family, even at the end of his life.
Jim’s deepest love was for his daughters whom he cherished above all else.
Jim is survived by his daughters, Avery Coffman and Lauren Cotton; his beloved son-in-law, Joseph Coffman; sisters, Terri (Ken) Shannon and Linda (Robert) Orenstein; brother, Steve Cotton; numerous nieces and nephews; and his sweet dog, Buddy, who brought him great comfort.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be held 10:30 a.m. until a memorial service to begin at 11 a.m. Friday, May 13, 2016 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, 2276 Airport Blvd., Pensacola, Florida, with Rev. Mike Sigler officiating.
The family would like to extend a special thank you for all the thoughts and prayers from his friends in Gulf Breeze and beyond. A special thank you also goes out to Dr. Thomas D. Sunnenberg and the Sacred Heart Cancer Center and to Emerald Coast Hospice and their angel on earth, Mendi McCormick. A heartfelt thank you to Jim’s lifelong friend, Larry Dumestre, Larry’s wife Pamela and their son, Jackson for making Jim feel loved, peaceful and at home during his final days.
Arrangements by Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, Pensacola, www.harpermorrismemorialchapel.com.
