James Craig Cotner, 74, of Huntington, Arkansas died Monday, June 20, 2022 at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith, Arkansas after many years of poor health. He was a retired building contractor and former mayor of Huntington. He was born June 18, 1948 in Huntington, Arkansas to James Howard Cotner and Geraldine June (Craig) Cotner. He was preceded in death by his parents “Jick and June” and his sister, Vickii Cotner Strange.
He loved reading, watching “Jeopardy”, working crosswords and visiting with his family. In his younger years, he loved bass fishing and water-skiing, singing and playing guitar. He loved to joke and laugh with the people he loved.
He is survived by his son, Dr. James Brian Cotner of Clarksville, AR; his daughter, Krista LeAnne Holmes of Huntington and their mother, Adrienne Sue Miles of Greenwood; seven grandchildren, Rachel Cotner Fullom of Chicago, IL, Dr. Caleb Cotner of Bridgeport, WV, Ruth Cotner of Clarksville, Mackenzie LeAnne Holmes, Makiah Jayne Holmes, Tommy Lee “Trace” Holmes III and James Tyler Holmes and one great-granddaughter, Avery Layne. He was looking forward to the birth next month of another great-granddaughter, Raylan Louise.
A family-led memorial service will be 11 a.m., Saturday, June 25 at Westwood Baptist Church with inurnment near his parent’s grave at Huntington Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers will be Ronnie Fox, Gary Turner, Arnold Elmore, Gary Colley, Paul Mendenhall, Jackie Smith and Paul Creila.
