Rita Laverne Cothern, 86, of Arnold died Jan. 24, 2026. Mrs. Cothern loved spending time with her family and enjoyed cooking, sewing and laughing. Born March 22, 1939, in Defiance, she was the daughter of the late Otis and Ethel (Tayon) Potter.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Daniel Cothern.
She is survived by three children: Denise Hughes, Danny Cothern and Elmer (Christy) Cothern; nine grandchildren: Tommy Hughes, Jeffrey (Krista) Hughes, Danielle Berry, Casey (Kenny) Akins, Tosha (Jon) Debold, Elmer (Gerri) Cothern Jr., Kyle (Rachael) Cothern, Sherri Fergus and Jeffrey Rousan; 20 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; three siblings: Roger (Wanda) Bailey, Bonnie (and the late Larry) Ray and Rick (and the late June and Debbie) Potter; and many other family members and friends.
She also was preceded in death by eight siblings: Floyd, Harold, Charles, Taylor, Elmer, John, Sharon and Mary Potter.
Visitation is scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at Heiligtag-Lang-Fendler Funeral Home, 1081 Jeffco Blvd., in Arnold. A funeral service will take place from noon to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at the funeral home. Following the funeral service, a committal service will be held in Shepherd Hills Cemetery in Barnhart from 1-1:15 p.m. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to Shriners Hospital for Children. Arrangements are under the direction of Heiligtag-Lang-Fendler Funeral Home.