- Date Of Birth: May 1, 1928
- Date Of Death: July 30, 2016
- State: Utah
Jay W. Kotter
BRIGHAM CITY – Jay W. Kotter, 88, passed away quietly Saturday morning July 30, 2016 at his home in the presence of his wife, Donna. He was born May 1, 1928 in Brigham City, Utah to William Jensen Kotter and Almannie Hale. His mother passed away when he was eight years old. His father married Olive Hale on September 26, 1939, whom he also called mother.
In the summer of 1945 he joined the Merchant Marines and went to Japan on a ship to transport some of the First US Army troop’s home. He attended schools in Brigham City, graduating from Box Elder High School and LDS Seminary in 1946.
He married Norma Jean Willie October 13, 1948 and they had five sons: Wayne, Valden, Paul deceased (Cathy), Alan (Heidi) and Kelly (Amanda) Kotter. They later divorced.
On August 20, 1983 he married Donna Staker Rock at their Brigham City Home. He gained two more children: Daniel Rock and Darla Rock Foster. Their marriage was solemnized in the Ogden Temple August 20, 2004. Together they have 23 grandchildren (three deceased), and many great-grandchildren.
He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, attending church in the Fourth, Eight, Corinne 1st, Harper Ward, Brigham Willows, Third Ward, Casa Grande, AZ, and the Kotter Canyon Ward. He served missions in Atlantic States Mission and Southern States Mission. He was mission branch president, Sunday school teacher, home teacher, with his wife, he worked in the stake Dutch Name Extraction mission six years and the Ogden Temple as an ordinance officiator from 2006 to 20011, when it closed for renovations.
He was a lifetime rancher and farmer and bought his first farm in Corinne, in 1951. He owned a cow-calf operation in the mountains east of Mantua and ran his cattle operations in the summer at Lost Creek. He had a great love of horses, an appreciation of all wildlife, the outdoors and had been an avid fisherman and hunter.
An avid trap shooter since 1962, lifetime charter member of the Golden Spike Trap Club, he was an organizing founder, director for many years, and a past club president. He was instrumental in obtaining ATA sanctioned shooting events making it one of the most outstanding trap clubs in Utah.
He and Donna were Arizona snowbirds from 1989 to 2006, shooting ATA sanctioned events at Black Canyon, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tucson, and Casa Grande. They traveled to may tournaments in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Wyoming. They also Traveled Canada, Alaska, the Western Caribbean, and Eastern States US Historical and Church History sites. During this time and until 2009 he also enjoyed many hours of playing billiards at Arizona RV Resorts in Tournaments and at the Brigham City Community Center.
Because of ailing health, he no longer could participate in those activities and was content to read and watch various TV shows and was an avid Jazz basketball fan. He also enjoyed receiving visits from friends and family and his weekly outings to J&D’s cafAC..
His wife, Donna and their family wish to express a special thank you to Dr. John Markeson, AFI Hospice’s: Heidi Pearce, Lee Clark, Heidi, his CAN, and all the past doctors and nurses he’s had for keeping him going and giving him comfort.
He ran until he could no longer do so and was true to his faith and good character to the end. He was always trying to reinvent the wheel.
