PAUL ALAN COTTER

Paul Alan Cotter, 73, of Springfield MO, passed away on Sunday, August 1, 2021 at his home in Springfield, MO.  He was born May 14, 1948 to Ora Dee Cotter and Meda Belle Miller Cotter.  He lived in the same house on West Scott Street, Springfield, MO from birth until he married.  Paul attended Central High School (CHS) and the neighborhood elementary school, Fairbanks, which in recent years has become the Drew Lewis Foundation at the Fairbanks a nonprofit community center which “offers programming via the Northwest Project, Healthy Homes Initiative

Paul was saved, baptized and ordained as a Deacon at Grant Avenue Baptist Church whose radio motto was in the “Heart of Springfield with Springfield on its heart”.  Paul was a Bible Scholar and writer who spent his retirement years in continual Bible study.  At Paul’s death, the family found open Bibles, pens and note pads in each room of his house including the garage!  He donated to several ministries and shared their Bibles and others he purchased with co-workers and friends.   

Before retiring in 2019, Paul assumed many positions in his over 30 years working for Prime Inc. (primeinc.com), an “over-the-road and regional trucking company…” Prime began in 1970 with a single truck, in a small building off Highway 65 in Urbana, MO and moved to Springfield, MO 10 years later.  According to their website, Prime is now “one of America’s largest and most successful trucking operations”.  

Paul is survived by four children:  Paula Waters of Louisiana, Christopher Cotter of St. Louis, MO, Stacie Wells, of Nixa, MO and Bailey Baker of Springfield and three grandchildren.  He also leaves behind his brother, David Cotter and wife Marklyn of Springfield along with their three children and spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren plus a host of family and friends. 

Services will be Monday, August 9^th at 10 am at Eastlawn Cemetery, Springfield, MO.