Ruth (Paquin) Cotton, 80, of Haverhill passed away Tuesday, April 19, at Merrimack Valley Health Center, Amesbury.
Cottonwas born in Haverhill, June 17, 1935, to Wilfred and Doris (Piper) Paquin. She grew up in Groveland and graduated from Pentucket Regional High School. She was married to her husband, William K. Cotton, for 51 years. When “Billy” passed in 2007, life was never quite the same for her. In addition to being a devoted wife, Ruth was a proud mother who lovingly raised two sons, Jimmy and Danny and an adoring “gremmie” to her grandchildren. Cotton had a gift when it came to working with children who had special needs. She made a difference in the lives of so many children, and their families, during her years transporting students to school and working as a teacher’s aide at Consentino School in Haverhill. She was an active member of the Groveland Congregational Church, attending retreats, baking her unmatched toll house cookies and scotcheroos for bake sales and participating in Faith Circle.
She leaves her two sons James Cotton and his wife Jean of Hampton Falls, N.H., and Daniel Cotton of North Hampton, N.H.; brother Richard Paquin and his wife Sandy of Plaistow, N.H.; sister Edith Simpson of Cape Cod; five grandchildren Jonathan, Bradley, Amy, Michael and Billy; two great grandchildren Levi and Adalia Mae; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her calling hours Sunday, April 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. at H.L. Farmer & Sons Funeral Home, 106 Summer St., Haverhill. Her funeral service will beMonday, April 25, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow in the Riverview Cemetery, Groveland. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. PO Box 96864 Washington, DC 20090 or at www.lupus.org.