Imogene Cottman

Imogene Cottman, long-time former Ponca City resident, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 4, 2019, in Burleson, Texas, with her daughter, son-in-law and son by her side. She was 90 years of age. Imogene was born on August 28, 1928, on the family homestead in Woods County, Oklahoma, to Joseph E. and Lillian Phillips Ferguson.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 9, 2019, at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Ponca City, with Rev. Mike Kearns of Burleson First Christian Church officiating. Visitation will be at Grace Memorial Chapel on Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with the family in attendance to receive friends and relatives from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Arrangements are in care of Grace Memorial Chapel of Ponca City.
Imogene grew up in the Freedom area of Oklahoma, graduating from Freedom High School. She married Wilbur Stout on March 23, 1946, in Woods County, Oklahoma, and in 1947, they moved to Ziebach County, South Dakota, to operate a cattle ranch. During this time, their three children, Kathleen, Cynthia and Perry, were born. In 1962, the family moved to a ranch in Noble County, Oklahoma, near Marland. Throughout her life and wherever she lived, Imogene always enjoyed music and playing the piano, whether at church, her children's school activities and other community events, people could count on Imogene.
After the conclusion of her first marriage, she married Robert Cottman on July 31, 1976, and became a devoted stepmother to his five children. The couple made Ponca City their home. Imogene enjoyed working in the business office at Sooner Life Insurance for many years and then transitioned to St. Joseph Hospital in the administration office until her retirement. After retiring, she continued her service as a volunteer at the hospital.
Fondly known as Mother, Mom and Grandma Genie, Imogene most enjoyed spending time with her children and family, and spoiling her grandchildren, fostering in them throughout their lives a love of reading, a sense of style and by quiet example, her independence, modesty and western Oklahoma values. Imogene also loved to travel, dance, and play cards and board games, most notably Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit. A woman of diverse interests, she enjoyed a great Texas Rangers baseball game just as much as an evening at the symphony.
Survivors include: one daughter Kathleen and husband Don Welch of Burleson, Texas; and one son Perry and wife Marilyn Stout of Stillwater, Oklahoma. Additionally, one sister, Jo Sanders of Goltry, Oklahoma, and one sister-in-law, Vera Ferguson of Freedom, Oklahoma; three grandchildren, Kim Pulliam and husband Dave of Coppell, Texas; Doug Welch and wife Beth of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Lyndall Stout of Stillwater, Oklahoma; five great-grandchildren, Dylan Welch, Shea Pulliam, Aria Welch, Spencer Yannuzzi and Duncan Welch, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Imogene was preceded in death by her parents; her infant daughter, Cynthia Irene Stout; her husband, Robert Cottman; her brother, Harold Ferguson; and her two sisters, Irene Ferguson and Donna Ferguson.
Family and friends may leave condolences and messages through the memorial registry available online at gracememorialchapel.net. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent in Imogene's memory to First Christian Church, P.O. Box 57, Burleson, TX 76028.

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