William Henry Cottrell

Born on September 3, 1939, he was the son of Espie and Flois Primm Cottrell. Willie was a lifetime resident of Union County until his recent relocation to Bentonville, Arkansas. Willie married Judie Delores Kinard on January 18, 1963. He is a 1962 graduate of Ouachita Baptist University.

To know Willie was to love Willie. He will be remembered most for his love of Jesus, family and friends. He delighted in cultivating close relationships and never met a stranger or missed an opportunity to share the love of Christ. He took great joy in sharing his life and ministry with Judie and delighted in spending quality time with his daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Willie exemplified excellence and passion in pastoring his church family, constructing houses, achieving his fitness goals, making his “best-ever” fudge, and taking care of his favorite truck which can still be easily spotted and identified as “Willie Cottrell’s truck” in his home town.

Called to preach at the age of fourteen, Willie pastored four churches in his lifetime beginning at the age of twenty-three with his most recent pastorate at Salem Baptist Church, Farmerville, Louisiana where he ministered forty-one years prior to his retirement. He also served the South Arkansas area for several decades as a building contractor.

Willie was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Hays Cottrell and his sister, Martha Ann Hare.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Judie Kinard Cottrell; daughters Molly (Jimmy) Norris of El Dorado, Arkansas and Kelly (Biff) Scott of Pea Ridge, Arkansas; grandchildren Collin (Anna) Norris and Erin (Webster) Senn; and great-grandchildren William and Rylee Norris and Ivy, Sebastian and Oliver Senn.

Arrangements for a celebration of Willie’s life will be forthcoming.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Circle of Life Hospice, Bentonville, Arkansas.