Willis Cotton, age 94, departed his earthbound life and beloved Richland, Washington on February 8, 2009 in the presence of his daughter, Nancy. Willis was born at home on the Elberta Hill Fruit Farm near Leslie, Arkansas on April 23, 1914. He was the eldest of four children born to Virgie and Phelps Cotton. He graduated high school in West Plains, Missouri where he played right tackle on the football team.

Back in Leslie, he met his future wife, Bill Kimbrell. They married in 1934. For the first couple of years they lived in a tent at various lumber camp locations in north central Arkansas when Willis worked for his father, who was a lumber broker for a barrel stay factory. Later he worked at a general store, then at a munitions plant in Memphis and on the Manhattan Project in Childersburg, Alabama before coming to Hanford in 1944.

Willis was most proud that he and his wife moved west, both got good jobs and got their feet on solid ground after living in the south during the drought and depression. The prefab on Winslow seemed like a mansion after living in a camp trailer in Hanford. Willis enjoyed being on the Hanford Security Patrol for 30 years and retired in 1977.

At age 10 Willis took over from his mother the responsibility of raising the family vegetable garden and continued to garden until recently. He always had "a garden patch" out back behind his homes in Richland and fed his family well. For about 20 years he had a 2 ½ acre "Little Bit of Heaven" west of Richland where he planted 100 apple trees and grew row after row of good summer food crops – and where he tried to teach his young grandchildren, Greg and Jill, to drive his tractor and pickup truck. He was always giving away garden goods, trees and flower plants to his family and friends. He loved to hand-water the lawn and flower beds with his thumb on the end of the garden hose.

Willis enjoyed fishing and traveling with his wife, daughter and, later, his grandchildren and son-in-law, Paul; fixing up a go-cart for Greg and Jill; going out to the Old Time Fiddlers; talking to people around the world on his ham radio and looking after friends who were alone or ailing.

In 1941 Willis joined Wiley's Cone Lodge No. 524 F. & A.M. and maintained his membership. In 1954 he received a 32nd degree in the A & A Scottish Rite. While working at Hanford, he was a member of the Hanford Guards Union.

Willis is survived by his daughter Nancy Paul Winklesky; grandson Greg Pam Winklesky; granddaughter Jill Brian Mackenzie; four great-grandchildren Conar and Darby Mackenzie and Erika and Katrina Winklesky; brother Charles Mary Evelyn Cotton; sister Willene Cotton; two cousins and two grandnieces. All will miss him beyond words. Having "Bill Papa," a great grandpa and a grandpa, who was simply great in every way was a blessing for the entire family.

Willis was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years in 2003 after he had cared for her the last six years of her life; his father; his mother; and a baby sister.

The family is most grateful for the friendship and care given to Willis by Jerry Yesberger and his dog, Teddy. We wish to thank caregivers at Richland Rehab and Eagle Assisted Living who were so wonderful to him and a special thanks goes to Lower Valley Hospice.

A Masonic Funeral Service by the Richland Masonic Lodge No. 283 A. & F.M. will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday February 14, 2009 at Memories at Sunset Event Center located behind Einan's Funeral Home with interment to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Richland, WA. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., also taking place at Memories at Sunset Event Center on Saturday prior to the service.