Cotton, William G. "Bill" "Willie"January 2, 1943 - January 23, 2025William G. "Bill" "Willie" Cotton, 82, of Columbia, IL., born January 2, 1943, in Gideon, MO to the late Albert Lee and Ruth Cotton, passed away Thursday January 23, 2025, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson, Festus, MO.As the son of sharecroppers, Bill grew up in a small town in the bootheel of Missouri in a single room home with dirt floors where he had many adventures with his brothers and cousins. He moved to St. Louis when he was 18 years old and met the love of his life and beloved wife, Sue, and they were together for 63 years. They were blessed with a large and loving family. Together they had five children, seven grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. He loved to spend time with his wife, kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren laughing and sharing stories.Bill was a successful businessman and owner of Cotton's Ace Hardware. He opened his first grocery store in 1967 in St. Louis, MO

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