Kimberly Sue Cotton

Kimberly Sue Cotton, age 59, of North East, and Bradford, died beside her daughters on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. She was born on October 30, 1961, the daughter of John and Mary Alice Cotton. Kimberly graduated from Bradford High School in 1979 and Villa Marie College in 1991. She retired from Erie County Drug and Alcohol in 2020, after 23 years of service. Kimberly spent her entire life in the service of others. Before she worked as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor, she worked at Sarah A. Reed Retirement Home, Lakeshore Community Services, and the Community Shelter Services. Civil service and social work were truly her life’s passion and calling. She worked diligently for those in her care and positively affected the lives of many of those in the Erie area. Those who personally knew her in life can attest to this, that generosity was not an occasional endeavor for her, but the foundation in which she built and lived her life. She very often gave more than she could really afford and was too willful to receive more than she needed. And what little she did have, she gave to her children and pets. Since the moment they were born she gave almost every ounce of her spare time, money, emotional guidance, and love to her three children. She strived to not only endow them with all of their needs and wants; but also to act as their moral compass and instill in them the same spirit of generosity, empathy, kindness, and thoughtfulness that she possessed. She taught them a lot, but that above all else; the greatest joy one can find in this life is with helping others and cherishing those you care about. In her spare time she enjoyed spending time with family and friends, card games, antiquing, and reading history and true crime novels. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary Alice Cotton; brother, Brenn Cotton; and son, Kristopher Cotton. Kimberly is survived by her daughters Katherine “Niki” Cotton of North East and Kristina Cotton of North East; brothers Mark Cotton (Paula) of Olean, N.Y., and Shawn Cotton (Nora) of Bradford, several cousins; and best friends, Mary Lou Triana, Jeanie Erwin, and Lorrie Stone. Friends may call at the William D. Elkin Funeral Home, 65 South Lake Street, North East, on Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and are invited to a funeral service on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to SafeNet, 1702 French St., Erie, PA 16501.