Gary Lee Cottrell

After a long battle with metastatic melanoma, Gary L. Cottrell passed away Monday, October 16th at 2:05 pm at the age of 67. He passed painlessly in his own home, in the arms of his loving wife of 46 years, with his son, his daughter, his best friend since 3rd grade, as well as family, friends, and neighbors by his side. Born in Boulder, on August 5th, 1956 to Beryl and James Cottrell, Gary was the eldest of three children.

He attended Lyons High School, where he played football, worked at the Black Bear Restaurant, Lyons Market, and later in life he worked at Ted’s True Value in Lyons.

He graduated in 1974, and spent one year at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. In June of 1975, he returned home to attend a friends graduation party. He met and fell in love with a young woman named Debra, and two years later, he made her his wife in 1977.

In September of 1975 Gary joined the armed services, serving in the Air Force and Air National Guard. He did basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio Texas, and several months of guard duty in Glasgow Montana, until the base closed. To complete his tour of duty, he chose F.E. Warren in Cheyenne, WY., so he could be close to his family and Debbie. They soon married and moved to Cheyenne WY., until his monthly weekend duties in the Air National Guard allowed them to move back to Colorado. He received a honorable discharge in 1980.

Gary worked a variety of jobs, including short-order cook, taxi driver, and liquor store clerk before he earned his Bachelor of Chemistry at UNC. He then started with the NWQL and went on to earn his MBA from CU Denver in 1995 while working at the lab. He worked with the USGS for 36 years, starting as an Analytical Chemist and working his way to Acting Strategic Science Laboratory Branch (SLSB) Chief and Acting Quality Systems Branch (QSB) Chief, before retiring in August of 2020. He travelled periodically for business, going everywhere from Pakistan to Brazil, and made friends everywhere he went due to his very personable, honest, and generous nature. He treated everyone as the individual they are and made every conversation feel personal.

In his free time, he coached Longmont YMCA football, Lyons High School football, played softball at Golden Acres in Longmont, ran a marathon for charity, and travelled the world with his family.

Gary knew that life was for living and took pleasure in ziplining in Costa Rica, Panama, and The Flying Dutchmen in St. Martin. He also loved snorkeling in the Gulf of Mexico and other tropical waters. As an avid sports fan, he always supported Colorado University and would sometimes travel to away Buffs games across the country and was never a fair weather fan to the Broncos, the Rockies, or any athlete that represented “one of the most beautiful places in the world”.

After his diagnosis in Dec., 2020, Gary reflected “I’ve raised a wonderful family, travelled the world, and had a job I loved. I’ve gotten pretty lucky and couldn’t ask for much more.”

Gary is survived by his wife, Debbie, his son, Tony, his daughter, Janette, and his younger brother, Robert. He is preceded in death by his younger sister, Sandy, who also passed from cancer in 2015. The family would like to shout the praises of his best friend, Rick, who has been a great comfort and who has done anything and everything during Gary’s illness.

In lieu of flowers, we would like to request donations to The Ivy Foundation, The Glenn Garceleon Foundation, or the American Brain Tumor Association.

Viewings will be held at 4:00-7:00 pm Wednesday, October 25th and Thursday, October 26th at the Ahlberg Funeral Chapel in Longmont, Colorado. A celebration of life will be held at 11:30 am Saturday, October 28th at the same location.

Online streaming will also be available: www.ckpmediaservices.com/live

Dress casual – jeans, Hawaiian shirts, and Colorado sports team shirts are preferred.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com for the Cottrell family.