Mike Wayne Cotton, 74

Mike Wayne Cotton, age 74, passed away on Nov. 19, 2023 at Logan Health Medical Center.

Mike was born in Kalispell on June 23, 1949, to Donna ( Lynch) and Elvin Morrow. Elvin died in a boating accident when Mike was very young. A year or so later Donna remarried Don Cotton and the family moved to Helena to a ranch where Mike was raised. He loved horses, car racing and many other such sports throughout his lifetime. He worked with his dad moving houses and during his lifetime he worked as a logger, and at the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. for 32 years, retiring when they closed the plant. While he worked in the pot lines and eventually was a millwright, he worked hard at every job he did.  

At a young age he joined the Marines and served in Vietnam. 

Later in life he and Edna enjoyed taking their motorhome to Gray Wolf Casino and staying a night or two; one year he hit a jackpot and he smiled for weeks. 

Mike was a prankster and a jokester and had many sayings that would make people laugh. He had a talent for being able to fix things and TJ nicknamed him MacGyver Mike. We also called him the horse whisperer because of his talent for working with horses. 

He is preceded in death by his mother Donna, dad Don, and brother Tim and several favorite aunts and uncles.

He is survived by his wife Edna of 30 years, son Jesse and wife Pam and two grandchildren Michael and Britney. He is also survived by a grandson Tim Cotton, two stepdaughters TJ Martinson (Tom Mousel), Deb and Mark Donning; and three other step- children and their families and sister Diana (Mike) Hall, and Colleen (Chris) Young and their families and several cousins. 

Mike had a strong love for family and a life until dementia started taking his spirit a few years ago and then his life on Nov. 19, 2023, 

He and Uncle Jess are together again fishing and having fish fries in Heaven. Michael will be cremated, and military funeral will be held in the spring.  Friends are encouraged to visit our website at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolences for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory caring for the family.