Roll Call Tribute

Nathan Thomas "Tom" Cotman 

October 30, 1935 - March 6, 2025 

Tom Cotman of Austin, Texas passed away on March 6, 2025 at the age of 89. He was born on October 30, 1935 in Morton, Texas where he grew up among the west Texas tumbleweeds with a loving family of four children. After the family moved to Austin, Tom graduated from Travis High School in the class of 1954 and then pursued a B.S. and M.S. from Texas A&M University in Petroleum Engineering. He was always proud of his Aggieland days and degrees, fondly sharing stories of taking care of Reveille, who used to stay with his family during t.u. game weekends.

In 1959, Tom married Dorothy Lucille Marshall of Anahuac, Texas. After earning his Texas A&M degrees, Tom served in the Army in Fort Lee, Virginia, where he and Dorothy’s first child, William Thomas, was born. Upon leaving the service to work for Texaco, the family lived in Trinidad and Tobago, Houma, Louisiana, and New Orleans. Their daughter Ann Marie was born in Houma and daughter Catherine Lucille was born in New Orleans. In 1979 Tom left Texaco to work for IP Petroleum and the family moved to Houston, where Tom completed his career and retired in 2001. In 2012 Tom and Dorothy returned to Tom’s Austin roots, moving closer to their daughters’ families.

Tom is survived by his wife of 65 years, Dorothy Lucille Marshall Cotman, and his children and children-in-law: William Thomas Cotman and Teresa Matthews Cotman of Amarillo, Ann Marie Cotman Hicks of Austin, and Catherine Lucille Cotman and Rusty Morrison of Lampasas. Tom is also survived by six grandchildren: Lucy Cotman-Morrison, Allison Hicks, Muriel Cotman, R.J. Cotman-Morrison, Annabelle Hicks, and Will Hicks. Tom is also survived by his dear sister, Carolee Sadler, and many nieces and nephews.

Tom was predeceased by his parents, John Pat and Pauline Cotman, a brother, John Paul Cotman, and a sister Patricia Cotman Stanley.

Tom was the rare person who was always his authentic self. He genuinely lived his values rather than preach them, a quality that he put to work in his community as a church elder and Scoutmaster for Boy Scouts of America. He didn’t urge patience, he demonstrated patience through his words and deeds in even the most stressful situations. He didn’t scold for gossiping, he simply refused to engage in it instead modeling a way to be in the world that prioritized integrity and generosity. Tom’s highest priority was always honoring and protecting his wife, and in that he demonstrated what it means to love.

A memorial service is being planned for late spring 2025.

IN THE CARE OF
Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home