Obituary of Charles Chester Cotton, III

Preceded in death by parents Charles C.II and Helen J. Cotton and sister Cynthia.

Survived by sisters Deborah (Robert) Smith, Victoria (Bruce) Bakke, Stephanie (Scott) Cole, seven nieces, three nephews, and numerous great-nieces and nephews.

Charlie graduated from St.Anthony Village High School in 1979, and was an ASE certified auto mechanic. 

Charlie developed language skills at a very early age, which is not surprising, considering that he had four big sisters yammering at him constantly. That does not mean he was understandable to everyone else immediately. When he first said his name it was “Chi Coddon”. Charlie liked trying new things, and that included some adventures on his own that upset everyone else. He climbed two stories on a ladder the summer he was one, and got stuck between the edge of the house, and the top rung of the ladder. His mother climbed the ladder and carried him down, admonishing his three biggest sisters to quit jumping up and down and to be quiet.

When he was about four his family could not find him for a while, and when he did return, he was asked where he had been and he looked at us incredulously and said simply, “Yake Teet”. Which means he had walked at least two long blocks by himself and gone to Lake Street. 

Later the year he was four, when his family was moving into the St. Anthony house, he decided to go check out Apache Plaza. By himself.

Charlie went hunting and fishing with his dad quite a bit. He loved camping and was an excellent ‘campfire’ cook.

Charlie loved animals, esp. dogs, and was very kind to all.

He enjoyed helping friends and relatives by working on their cars. 

Charlie was at the Lift pretty much from the start. He helped and mentored other mechanics as much as he could.

Charlie had a hard time for a few years. The Lift’s aim is to “move people out of poverty and homelessness by providing low cost car repair”. Charlie was moved out of hopelessness by The Lift. It gave him a purpose and he was incredibly proud of his work there because it contributed to the well-being of others.

Memorials to The Lift Garage, 2401 East Lake Street, www.theliftgarage.org

Service Saturday, Sept 11, 2021 at the Cremation Society 4343 Nicollet Ave So, Minneapolis. Reception 12:00 PM, Service 1:00 PM.

Private interment at a later date.