Cota, Marilyn A.

Marilyn A. Cota, 64, died Thursday, March 7, 2013, at Crestview Care and Rehab Center in West Branch, surrounded by her family and many friends following a short battle with brain cancer. Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, at Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch. Following the visitation, cremation will take place with burial of her cremains at a later date in Oak Ridge Cemetery, West Liberty.

Marilyn was born Sept. 9, 1948, in Iowa City, the daughter of John W. and Marilyn (Ditmars) Leonard. She was a graduate of West Liberty High School in 1966. She was united in marriage to Joaquin “Jack” Cota in 1978. She had been employed with Louis Rich Foods/West Liberty Food for over 40 years and Herb and Lou's in West Branch for 15 years.

Marilyn was “mom” and “grandma” to a community. She took pride in her children and grandchildren, watching their activities and anything they took part in. She was an avid West Branch Bears fan.

Survivors include her husband, Joaquin Cota of West Branch; four children, Thomas Beaver of Lucy, Tenn., Michael (Jana) Beaver of West Branch, Jeremy (Ethel) Beaver of Millington, Tenn., and Michele Beaver of West Branch; grandchildren, Cassie Beaver, Jonathan (Martha) Fountain, Chantry (T.J. Noel) Burkholder, Caleb Burkholder, Brandon Beaver, Dylan Beaver, Mikaila Beaver, Skyler Beaver, Gabe Rocha, Tony Rocha and Aleah Rocha; great-grandchildren, Jonathan and Jacob Fountain and Lyla Snyder; two brothers, John (Dorothy) Leonard of Palmer, Alaska and Mark Leonard of Nome, Alaska; a sister, Sue Grove of Fargo, N.D.; a sister-in-law, Brenda Leonard of West Branch; and many nieces, nephews and many others that were just like her own and she called her own.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and brother, Tom Leonard.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com.

A memorial fund has been established.

Published March 10, 2013 in The Gazette