Milton Eugene Cotaya Jr.

On August 11, 2015 (his 91st birthday) God’s angels came to take Milton Eugene Cotaya, Jr. home. He leaves behind the love of his life, Edna Mae Bender Cotaya. Together they shared over 65years of marriage. Milton always teased that Edna was the best two bucks he ever spent since that was the cost of a marriage license back then. He truly adored Edna from the moment he laid eyes on her.

God sent his angels from heaven to escort Milton safely into the loving arms of our Lord, Jesus Christ where he will be reunited with his loved ones who have gone before him, especially his parents Milton Eugene Cotaya, Sr. and Gertrude Doucet Cotaya; his in-laws Frank Joseph Bender and Edna Mercante Bender; his grandson Terrence “Bubba” Cotaya, Jr., his granddaughter Ashley Blackwood and his dearest friends Frank Logue, Sr. and Betty Perez Logue. He passed away peacefully, at home with his wife Edna, his daughter Vicki and his son-in-law Joe at his side.

Father of Milton “Skip” Cotaya, III (Lynn), Cathy Cotaya Huber Read, Terrence Cotaya, Lee Cotaya (Jan), Vicki Cotaya Tosh (Joe), and Trudi Cotaya Blackwood (Terry). Grandfather of Melissa Cotaya Augustin, the late Terrence “Bubba” Cotaya, Jr., Timothy Cotaya, Thomas Huber, II, William “Terry” Blackwood, III, Kristen Cotaya, Paul Cotaya, Jessica Cotaya, Laura Cotaya Carroll, the late Ashley Blackwood, Matthew Cotaya and Beaux Blackwood. Great-grandfather of Brianna Cotaya, Terrence Cotaya, III, Savannah Augustin, Alyssa Danove, Alexis Blackwood, Brooklyn Cotaya, Addison Blackwood, Taylor Cotaya, Sarah Augustin, Annelise Cotaya and Emmeline Cotaya. Brother of Wilfred Cotaya and brother-in-law of Charmaine Ansardi.

Milton was a loving husband, father and true friend. He was such a kind person to everyone he met, having never met a stranger. Milton was born and raised in New Orleans, moving to Metairie just after starting his family, then on to Kenner and Harahan before settling in Slidell to be in the constant and loving care of his daughter Vicki and his sports buddy Joe.

Milton loved sports all of his life. As a child he would swim in Bayou St. John with his buddies and eventually when he was in the service he swam across the Colorado River, much to the dismay of his commanding officer. In high school Milton played baseball as the catcher for Warren Easton. He was a team member of the 1941 States All-Legion baseball team. He was recruited to play pro ball but with a growing family he declined. Milton proudly served his country as part of its’ greatest generation during the World War II era in the United States Army. He founded Fasteners, Inc. with his father in 1966 and built it into a very successful business becoming one of the largest nut and bolt houses in the south. He was a founding member of Our Lady of Divine Providence Catholic Church, serving many years through the OLDP Men’s Club. He was a loyal and dedicated LSU fan attending all of their football, baseball and basketball games, traveling to most of their away football games and all of their baseball World Series games in Omaha with their many LSU friends until his physical health would no longer allow. He was a big Saints fan from their very first game in Tulane stadium attending all home games, again until it became too difficult, even traveling with the team some during the earlier years. He also enjoyed attending N.O. Jazz basketball games back in the day.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass at Lake Lawn Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70124, on Friday, August 14, 2015, at 2:00 P.M. Visitation will begin at 12:00 P.M. until service time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Milton to the charity of your choice or the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements entrusted to Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home.