Maurice Hugh Cotter

Hard to conceive of a world without its coach. Maurice Hugh Cotter JR was born to Maurice Sr and Genevieve Hyatt in Kansas City, MO August 11, 1937, and left us on June 30, 2023 in Cedar Park TX from complications of dementia. Having lived in many places from KC to Chicago to Atlanta to cities across Kansas during his coaching career, he found a home in Cedar Park. His enthusiasm was noted in a Hill Country News article Welcome Stranger on his second day in the city.

Moe attended Bishop Ward HS, among others, and Pittsburg State University (PSU) in Kansas where he earned a bachelor's and master's degree - not bad for a guy who didn't finish HS. He enlisted in the US Army Airborne earning an extra stipend jumping out of airplanes. Made perfect sense to a 17-year-old serving in Germany during the mid-1950s. At PSU he met and married his soul mate, Anita Sue Jefferson, an Ozark hillbilly very different from the city girls he was accustomed to but a match made in heaven that lasted 61 years.

Moe made life-long friends wherever he went. The most treasured were his fellow coaches and Gorilla teammates on the 1961 National Championship football team. Devoted husband, father, PaPa, brother, uncle. Loyal Friend. Fierce taskmaster to the legends of young men he coached. He had high expectations for himself and those around him, no exceptions, no excuses. Westwood HS in Round Rock TX presents each year the Moe Cotter "Fighting Heart" award to the football player depicting toughness on the field and great character off the field, traits he valued highly.

He is survived by his wife Anita, his children Kevin (Wendi), Erin (Joey), Kelly (Sam), brother Joe (Judy), cousin Martina (John) and "other" brother Jim Vader (Sandy), six precious grandchildren - Hayden, Riley, Kieren, Gavin, Sean, Keelin...all Irish winds beneath his sails..., sister-in-law Kay (Bob), nieces Robynn (Sean), Tracy, nephews Michael and Joey (Hanjin) as well as other Great nieces and nephews all of whom were so important to him.

Moe, Dad, PaPa, Brother, Coach... We wish you peace, relaxing boat rides, perfect greens, and cold Shiner Bocks. Hook 'em Horns! And remember - Once a Gorilla. Always a Gorilla.

A memorial service for Maurice will be held Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 700 W Whitestone Blvd, Cedar Park, Texas 78613.

In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to PSU Endowment for Excellence in Athletics Program, Moe and Anita Cotter Football Scholarship fund, 1701 Broadway St, Pittsburg, KS 66762.