Gary "Cotton" D Carter

Gary D. “Cotton” Carter, age 66, lifelong resident of Tecumseh, OK passed away Monday, November 23, 2020 in Tecumseh.

He was born May 22, 1954 in Shawnee, OK to Zack Coy and Lola Mae (Smith) Carter.

Cotton was a lifelong resident of Tecumseh. He attended Tecumseh Public Schools and graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1972. While in high school Cotton met, and fell head over heels in love with, the love of his life, Joy Coffey. Their first date was on November 19, 1971. They ran away together 3 times before finally getting married in Robert Rider’s home in Tecumseh on August 7, 1972. They have remained best friends and soul mates for 48 years.

Cotton was a very hard worker. He worked for 15 years in the oil field. He then owned and operated Cotton’s Trucking for 20 years. Cotton was a rancher his entire adult life. He enjoyed ranching and loved cattle. He also enjoyed hunting and noodling in his spare time. The thing he was most passionate about was his family. Many children were blessed to be raised by Cotton and Joy through life, and his children and grandchildren meant the world to him. Everyone knew when Gary said “Take A Five” it was time for a nap, but it would be longer than five minutes.

He was preceded in death by his father; and brother, Zackary Earl Carter.

Those left to cherish his memory are his adoring wife, Joy; daughter and son-in-law, , April and Cory Bugg of Tecumseh; 2 sons and daughters-in-law, Chance and Emilee Carter of Tecumseh and Jason and Brandie Carter of Tecumseh; mother, Lola Mae Carter of Tecumseh; sister in law and brother in law, Jan and Craig Wright of Point Arena, CA; 5 grandchildren, Braxton and Madison Bugg, Braylee Bugg, Ellee Carter, Levi Carter, Blake Carter, Zackary Carter, Britlie Carter, and Braelynn Carter, 2 great grandchildren, Miley Bugg and Briar Bugg;  and numerous other family and friends.

Visitation will be Friday, November 27, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Cooper Funeral Home. Service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 28, 2020 at Living Love Christian Center Shawnee, OK with Reverend Mark Guinn officiating. Burial will follow at Tecumseh Cemetery under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.