Warren Thomas Cotner

Warren Thomas Cotner, age 71, of Highlandville, passed away Monday May 18, 2015, after a 6 month battle with brain cancer, in his home surrounded by his wife and daughter. He was born in Greenfield MO, to Thomas and Louise (Ruggles) Cotner, on June 5, 1943. Warren and his wife, Ruth Ann Abram, were united in marriage on November 11, 1975. Warren moved to southern California at the age of 14. After college, he joined the Ventura County Police Department, where he worked for 20 years, until his retirement. Warren moved his family to Willard Mo in 1986, where in 1992, on the corner of 160 and 123 Hwy's in Willard, MO, he built and operated Cotner's Corner Convenience Store, and in 1995 he built Wimpy's Restaurant. After selling the business to his daughter, Cheyenne, he and his wife moved to a beach town on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, where they lived for 6 years. He and his wife traveled all over the United States, Central America as well as Europe, before returning to Missouri and building their retirement home in Highlandville, MO, in 2001. Warren's family describes him as a strong, very intelligent, extremely generous, and a lover of all animals. Warren is survived by his wife Ruth; their daughter Cheyenne Perryman and her husband Joey, of Nixa MO; three children from previous marriage, Leighya Cotner, Troy Cotner and Trent Cotner and his wife Jessica, all of Ventura CA; Two Step-sons, Jeff Owings and his wife and Angie, of Willard MO and John Owings and his wife Sarah, of Camarillo, CA; his mother Louise Cotner, of Aurora, MO; and several grand-children. Warren is preceded in death by his father; his brothers David and Danny Cotner; a sister Elisa Eckard; and a son Shane Cotner. The family will be having a visitation only. This will be held on Saturday May 30, 2015, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, in Adams Funeral Home, Nixa MO. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Human Society of the Ozarks or your local no-kill shelter.