James Gordon Cote

Chassell

James Gordon Cote was born on November 3, 1944, in Hancock, MI to William and Laura

(Pakkala) Cote. He passed away on September 16, 2024, at Corewell Health Grand Rapids-

Butterworth Hospital where he had been a patient having had heart surgery a few weeks before.

Jim spent his early years in L'Anse, MI where he attended school before moving with his family

to Chassell at age 10. He was a graduate of Chassell High School. His best friends included

Edsel and Melvin Siira, John Rautiola, and his cousin, Bud Deziel. Mike Stromer was also

another close friend to Jim.

Jim was an artist, drawing in pen and pencil, and painting in oils and chalk. He was a prolific

learner and reader and took courses in Martial Arts, world culture, history, philosophy, and

religions. He studied Buddhism, Quantum Physics, Spanish and Russian languages, and much

more. He loved hiking, camping, and exploring. He especially enjoyed deer hunting with his

brother, Darwyn. Their stories would make you laugh until you cried.

He loved singing and played many instruments, especially the guitar and piano, and composed

his own songs and music. He played Jazz, the Blues, Johnny Cash, and Christian Hymns. He

was a comedian, spontaneous in life, and always seeing and inventing things from his own

creative vision. He was working on a funny children's story for his great-niece and great-nephew

prior to his death. With a deep love of Christ, he studied the scriptures and was a passionate,

sensitive, and caring person. He spent hours fervently praying for others, and supported

charities, especially the Disabled Veterans and St. Joseph's Indian School in Chamberlain, SD.

He successfully battled colon cancer at the age of 50.

Jim's work history included helping at Copper Harbor restaurants, the Hiawatha Drive Inn

Theater in Chassell, where he got to see movies for free, "Ben Hur" being his favorite, driving

bus for Houghton Schools, washing dishes at MTU, the Houghton County Road Commission,

and a log truck driver. He then worked for 7 years on nightshift at the Houghton County Medical

Care Facility as an orderly, moving on to maintenance, and ending his working career as the

Activity Director, where many of his talents were able to shine. He had good memories of

patients and staff, playing the piano and singing, with his own composed "Chicken Dance Song"

being a favorite, and transporting patients on the Isle Royale Portage Cruises. He was loved

and remembered by many.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his brother, Darwyn, and former wife, Carolyn Lowe.

Surviving are his stepdaughters, Carmen Jeffrey of Calumet and Amy (Josh) Mattson of

Greenville, SC, his sons, Axel (DeAnna) Knight of Menominee, MI, and Michael (Rose) Cote of

Hancock. He also has 11 step-grandchildren and 9 step-great-grandchildren. Surviving his are

his sister, Laurel (Ron) Gray of Chassell, with their children Rebecca Gray (Tom), Heather

(Craig) Tarvainen, Ben Gray, Jeremy Gray (Jody), Andrew Gray (Olivia), Sister-in-Law, Sue

Cote, of Chassell, and her children, Gordette (Ed) Leutz, Athena Cote, Wil (Dara) Cote, and

Brad (Holly) Cote. Numerous grand-nieces, nephews, and cousins, and his Aunt Anita Pakkala

of Agate Beach. Thank you to Xavier, Samuel, and Sophia Tarvainen who helped Uncle Jim

tremendously.

The family would also like to thank Ed and Gordette Leutz, Robert Kohtala, Paul Cote, Gordan

and Karen Kreft, Dr. Sig Janners, Dr. Marilyn Dewald, Dr. Ronald Voice, Dr. Lori Vaughn, Dr.

David Pesola, Dr. Merhi, and the medical crew at Corewell Health, Dr. Liston and the Wound

Care Staff at Portage, Portage and Aspirus Home Health, and his nurses who gave him such

good care, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, Little Brothers, Mercy Ambulance, Flagstar

and Superior National Banks, and Memorial Chapel, all of whom have given so much time,

kindness and care.

Jim's body was donated to Gift of Life in Ann Arbor, MI to help burn victims and others. He was

cremated and a graveside service will be held at 2:30pm in the Chassell Cemetery on Saturday August 23, 2025.

A celebration of his life will follow and posted at a later date.

To view his obituary or send condolences online to the family, please visit

www.memorialchapel.net.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Services – Chassell Chapel is assisting the family

with the arrangements.