Helen J. Cotton, 82, of Seneca, died peacefully on November 30, 2017, at the Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community in Meadville, PA.
Born August 17, 1935, in Springcreek Township, she was a daughter of the late William C. and Theresa J. Woloszyn Barr.
She was a 1953 graduate of Oil City High School.
Mrs. Cotton was employed as a secretary at Seneca Tool & Die, and later retired from Quaker State Oil Corporation as an accounting supervisor after 15 years of service.
Helen was a very giving person and never expected a thank you or to be publicly recognized.
She touched many people in many different ways and it has been passed down to the future generations. In turn, there will be many generations to come that will be touched by her.
A few of the ways she touched others was by baking blueberry muffins on election day and taking them to the local poll workers for a morning pick me up, spending time with ailing family members so others could take care of other necessary duties, making phone calls and setting up appointments and taking those that were unable to do so themselves to those appointments.
She would also spend time watching your children, so you could go to work or just get a day of rest.
Helen prepared many special occasion meals to lessen the expenses for such things as weddings, graduations and meals for after funerals.
But most of all, Helen spent countless hours involved in her children’s and grandchildren’s activities by being a 4-H leader, 4-H Fair board secretary, running the 4-H Fair eatery and working school functions.
So, when you remember Helen, please reach back and find one of those special moments when she touched your life and pass it on so that we may keep the giving spirit of Helen alive.
On July 1, 1953, she married Steward E. Cotton, who preceded her in death on April 20, 1998.
Helen is survived by a son, Dean (Debra) Cotton of Middletown; three daughters, Susan Carbaugh, Diane Russell, and Laura (Bruce) Reed, all of Seneca; eight Grandchildren, Chris (Chaval) Russell, Craig (Karry) Russell, Ben (Melinda) Carbaugh, Ken Carbaugh, Jason Cotton, Megan (Mike) Kreider, Amber (Ryan) Gahr, and Justin (Melissa) Reed; and seventeen Great Grandchildren.
She is also survived by a sister, Virginia Evans of Oil City, and nine brothers, Charles (Carol) Barr, Richard Barr, Arthur Barr all of Oil City, Ronald (Pat) Barr of Seneca, Donald (Sue) Barr of Virginia, Terry Barr and James (Karen) Barr of Rouseville, Joey (Deb) Barr of Punxsutawney, and Alan (Sally) Barr of Titusville.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by an infant sister Twila Barr, sister Mary Aites, brother Harvey Barr, sister-in-law Janice Barr, brother-in-law Gerald Evans, son-in-law John Carbaugh, and daughter-in-law Beth Cotton.
Friends may call at the Morrison Funeral home for visitation on Sunday from 5 pm to 7 pm, and again on Monday from 1 pm to 2 pm. A service will follow at the funeral home at 2 pm on Monday with
Rev. Karen Parsh, officiating.
Interment will be at Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens.
The family suggests memorials be made to a charity of one’s choice.
