Lorenzo Leslie Cotter, III
July 26, 1939 - October 30, 2020
Lorenzo Leslie (“LL”) Cotter, III, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and best-friend-ever to many, passed away on October 30, 2020. He was a very young, adventurous, 81-year-old.
Backstory & Career
LL was born in Wesley Hospital in Wichita, KS on July 26, 1939, the same hospital in which his wife, Ka, was also born in 1943 and son Brandon in 1969. LL lived in Wichita for 31 years. He attended North High School and Wichita State University. He served in the Army two years before returning to Kansas where he was an investor/owner in several entrepreneurial ventures until he joined IBM’s Office Products Division as a Sales Rep. He received many sales awards during his time with IBM, but his biggest win was when Ka began working there, too. He proudly shared with anyone who would listen that at age 30 “he had finally met his future wife and love of his life.”
In 1970 LL moved to a sales management position with IBM in St. Louis, MO., where daughter Leslie Ka was born. He left IBM in 1972 to join Lexitron, a new cutting-edge technology company in Los Angeles, CA. He loved the work, but after four years of long commutes, LL and Ka decided to return to Texas.
An Epic Journey
In 1976 Ka and LL sold their home in California and bought a 35-foot motorhome. They began the greatest adventure of their marriage—a five-month, 8,000 mile road trip across the U.S. with their children Brandon and Leslie (6 and 4 at the time). It was an epic journey filled with John Denver sing-alongs, made-for-reality-TV experiences in motorhome parks, and the woman with 6 toes.
To Texas
The Cotters moved to Dallas where LL continued work with Lexitron eventually moving to another startup company, BaronData. He also formed a successful residential lot development company, Cotter Properties and continued to be involved in real estate and oil and gas investments throughout his life.
The Man
As a Dad, LL committed himself to Brandon and Leslie’s activities - Scouting, Brownies, t-ball, softball, water skiing, soccer for both, guitar lessons, piano lessons, multiple business ideas started by Brandon, and Club Soccer with Leslie.
For his seven grandchildren LL was an involved and loving grandfather. He treasured the family’s summer and winter vacations in Colorado. So many memories were made skiing, hiking, biking, golfing, dinners by the grill, family celebrations, 4-wheeling at Camp Hale or just enjoying the views from the patio. All the sporting, arts, music, cheerleading and drama events at TCA became LL’s focus when the grandkids were involved. Over the years, Shaw, Maddie and Ella Kate Cotter and Cole, Gray, Westy and Hayes McCabe have done a great job collecting many wonderful “Cotterisms” that the family will always treasure.
LL led a joyful, colorful life, loved golf, and we can confidently say on his behalf today that LL was a scratch golfer. He loved being on the course, but even more, LL loved being in the 19th hole with friends, sharing about the time on the course, life, family, and faith.
His wry sense of humor was always evident. When he walked through the club, it was as if he was running for mayor—always looking around to see who was there, who could he say hello to, and more importantly, who could he “poke” in some way to prompt a smile or a laugh.
LL loved all things related to his faith, his family and his friends - and he never met a stranger. He believed in the personal touch, always preferring to see someone in person vs. high tech choices.
Service
He served as Chair of the Neighborhood Services board, an after-school program for underserved kids; leadership positions at Spring Valley United Methodist Church and Park Cities Presbyterian Church; Trinity Christian Academy Foundation Board member; TCA Student Tuition Aid Committee; TCA Golf team supporter; UTD Center for BrainHealth Advisory Board; Bent Tree Country Club Board Chair plus various Bent Tree Country Club committees. LL participated in multiple Bible Studies for both men’s groups and couples.
Closing
LL was preceded in death by his parents, LL (Les) Cotter, Jr. and Lois Parks Cotter Williams of Bartlesville, OK and Wichita, KS. LL is survived by his wife of 51years, Mary Ka Estes Cotter; his children, Brandon Cotter and partner Julia Berger; Leslie Ka Cotter McCabe and husband Randy McCabe, and his seven grandchildren Cole, Gray, Weston, and Hayes McCabe; Shaw, Madelynn, and Ella Kate Cotter; LL’s brother Tim Cotter and wife Doreen; sister-in-law Kathy Johnstone and husband Stephen and son Walter; sister-in-law BJ Johnson; niece Meegan Cotter Flanigan, husband Chris Flanigan, children Marlee, Mason and Whitney; niece Courtney Cotter Huang, husband Lung Huang, children Parker and Archie.
The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers and doctors at Presbyterian Texas Health Resources ICU for the amazing way they served us for the month that LL was in the hospital. They are heroes.
LL was thoughtful, kind—a true gentleman who was generous to a fault and a compassionate, passionate soul. A loving, caring husband, he was a role model to his children, grandchildren and friends.
A family memorial service with live streaming for guests will be held at 1:00 p.m. CST at Providence Presbyterian Church, 10727 Midway Road, Dallas, TX 75229.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:
The Cotter Family Scholarship at Trinity Christian Academy Foundation
