Arthur Eugene Cott

Longtime area resident, Arthur Eugene Cott, passed away on Saturday, July 6, 2024 of natural causes.  He was 95 years old.

Arthur was born on May 19, 1929 at home in the town of Willard in Shanee County, Kansas.  Arthur entered active service in the U.S. Navy on June 6, 1946 and was stationed at China Lake.  Arthur met Ellen Delia Cook in 1946 while she was working at China Lake.  They were married on May 24, 1947 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Orange, CA where Ellen was raised.  They returned to Ridgecrest where they had three children, Dennis Cott, Ken Cott and Cheryl Sturdy.

Art liked hunting in the Sierra Mountains.  He also loved fishing and camping in Montana.  He was an Aqua Bonita Flyfisher Charter member.  He and Ellen loved to dance.  They belonged to a local square dance group and square-danced weekly.  They looked forward to going to Montana for several months each year where they also square danced.  He enjoyed coaching little league baseball.  Art was a rock-hound and made jewelry with some of the beautiful precious stones he found.  He was a skilled woodworker.  He made beautiful quilt racks, magazine racks, clocks, chairs and doll high- chairs, cradles for his granddaughters and many other beautiful pieces of furniture that the family will treasure for generations to come.

Ellen Delia Cott passed away on August 22, 2006.  Arthur married Bobbie Jean Gano September 26, 2018.  They were married until Art's death.

Arthur is survived by his wife, Bobbie Jean Gano, Art and Ellen's children, Dennis Cott and wife, Karen, Ken Cott and wife, Christine, Cheryl Sturdy and husband, Jack, grandchildren, David Bitkowski and wife, Mirela, Jennifer Morgan and husband, Daniel, Rebekah Cott, Brian Cott, Chris Cott, great grandchildren, Dezaray, Domenic, Dustin and James.

There will be a visitation on Thursday, July 25 from 5:30 to 8:00 at Holland and Lyons Mortuary, 216 S. Norma St., Ridgecrest, CA 93555

Graveside services will be on Friday, July 26 at 9:00 a.m. at Desert Memorial Park, 801 S. San Bernardino Road, Ridgecrest, CA 93555