Dorothy Lu Cottrell

Memorial services for Dorothy Cottrell will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 2, 2024 at First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Shayla Graham officiating. Dorothy, age 88, of Gillette, Wyoming passed away Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at Primrose Retirement Community.

Dorothy (Kaltenbach) Cottrell was born August 24,1936 in Buffalo, Wyoming to Harold and Eleanor (Johnston) Kaltenbach. She attended elementary school, middle school and graduated from Buffalo High School. After graduation in 1954 she attended Hastings College in Nebraska. She married Lyle Cottrell in 1955. They later divorced. From that union she was blessed with three children, Greg, Deb and Christy. 

Dorothy was a member, past Elder and Deacon at First Presbyterian Church-Gillette, initiated into Chapter J (Buffalo) P.E.O., charter member of Chapter AR (Gillette) and a current member of Chapter V; recently celebrating her 70-year P.E.O. anniversary. She was also a 56-year member of Gillette Beta Sigma Phi. 

She and her Saturday morning coffee friends were known as the “Gabby Girls,” where friendship, fun, and laughter filled their day. Dorothy loved to attend her grand and great-grandchildren’s activities whether it be sports, concerts, programs, horse-back riding or swimming in the river. Dorothy’s favorite place was the cabin in the Big Horn mountains, taking evening drives to see the moose, elk and deer and the wildflowers blooming in the Spring. She was very proud of her Wyoming heritage. 

Dorothy worked at the Campbell County Treasurer’s office, Mossholder’s/Lerwick Furniture, Davis Chevrolet, Bill Dorr Accounting, Meyers, Sylte and Holst Accounting and worked many years and retired from R&G Electric. She also volunteered at the Campbell County Public Library and Primrose Retirement Community as an ambassador “extraordinaire” baking cookies for new residents. She enjoyed her bridge club, card games and her Bible study as well as reading to students at Lakeview Elementary.

She is preceded in death by her parents and granddaughter, Crimson Skye. She is survived by her children Greg (Lynda) Cottrell of Gillette; Deb (Luke) Russell of Hayden, Idaho; Christy (Tim) Palu of Gillette; brother Charles Kaltenbach of Hansville, Washington. She was a VERY proud and dedicated grandmother of 8 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren and “Grandma Dorothy” to many bonus grandchildren. Special thanks to Julie, Megan, Rachel, Brenda, Ali and Hospice for their special care. Thank you to Primrose staff and residents for their care and support. 

Memorials are suggested to be made to benefit Beta Sigma Phi or P.E.O. Chapter AR Scholarship. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com