Obituary of C. Medley Cotton

C. Medley “Med” Cotton, 99, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on October 13, 2020, following a brief illness. He was born June 27, 1921 in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada, the son of Reverend Canon Percy and Evelyn Cotton. Med was a graduate of Calais Academy. Following his graduation, he attended Ricker College in Houlton, Becker College in Worcester, MA, and Colby College in Waterville, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. He was drafted into the Army at the age of 19 and served in World War II. He was a Staff Sergeant in the 12th Armored Tank Destroyer Division in the Battle of the Bulge, in Germany and Central Europe. Since he was born in Canada, he had to be naturalized; he was the first soldier in uniform to be naturalized at the Bryan County Courthouse in Bryan, TX (the pamphlet of the US Constitution he was given was in Spanish). After returning from his military service, Med was employed in many different jobs. Due to the shortage of teachers, he returned to Colby College and entered the teaching profession shortly thereafter. Initially after his graduation, he was the manager of the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle; however, he soon got his first job in education as the Vice-Principal of Limestone High School. He went on to become a Business teacher at Presque Isle High School, which was where he spent the remainder of his teaching career. He was the Head of the Business Department, where he was one of 3 educators to start the first Adult Education Program. He also taught Driver’s Education (and prided himself on being the oldest Driver’s Ed. teacher in Maine), started the Boy’s Tennis team, and coached the tennis, golf and winter sports teams. In addition to coaching, Med was also considered a local expert on all things tennis. He built and maintained his own clay tennis court, which he enjoyed sharing with anyone who wanted to play. His court was one of the sites for the annual Aroostook Clay Court Tennis Tournament. As a hobby he and his wife Joyce started the first commercial apple orchard in Presque Isle, grew pansies and vegetables for the stores, and had a roadside stand for vegetables (called Cotton Pickin' Vegetables) and apples. During their retirement, he and Joyce spent winters in Florida, where they worked in an RV park, taught tennis, and participated in bike tours. In recent years Med was honored to be inducted into the Presque Isle Sports Hall of Fame for his service, not only to the development of athletics at Presque Isle High School, but also for his many years of dedicated coaching of multiple sports. As well, a scholarship in his name was started by a former student who had been inspired by Med to pursue a career in accounting. The Medley Cotton Scholarship Fund awards money to college-bound students who are interested in studying accounting. He was predeceased by his parents; wife Joyce; sisters Ruth and Pauline; brother Hunter; son-in-law Richard White. Med is survived by children Andrea (Cotton) Nicknair and husband Marc of Glenburn, Vicki (Cotton) White of Bangor, James Cotton and wife Donna of Glenburn; grandchildren Angela (Nicknair) Mousette and husband Tim, James Nicknair and wife Lindsay, Brad White, Katie and Ben Cotton; great-grandchildren Nolan and Leo Mousette; many nieces and nephews. At Med’s request, there will be no funeral. A private graveside service will be held for the family. Messages and memories may be shared with the family at kileyandfoley.com. Arrangements by Kiley & Foley Funeral Service, 299 Union St., Bangor.