Martin Allen Cotton

September 12, 1972 - May 25, 2020

Martin Allen “Marty” Cotton, 47 of Magnolia, Arkansas, formerly of Topeka, Kansas and Wichita, Kansas, passed away on Monday, May 25, 2020 in Globe, Arizona. He was born on September 12, 1972 in Springfield, Missouri and was currently a Manager of Road Operations for Union Pacific Railroad and a former engineer for Union Pacific Railroad. Prior to working the railroad, he was a heavy equipment operator with Local 101 out of Kansas City Missouri. Marty proudly served his country from 1991 to 1994 in the United States Army. Marty had recently gained a love for scuba diving and was set to get his solo diving certification and was looking forward to getting it. He was a certified open water diver. He loved hiking in National Parks, and wanted to go to all 62 of them. He also enjoyed traveling and wanted to visit Ireland and Scotland. He had been a Freemason for a number of years while living in Topeka. He had obtained a Federal Firearms License while living in Topeka and made it a priority to help others protect their rights. Marty loved the company he worked for. When he moved to management, his love for Union Pacific became more apparent. He was involved in several organizations with the railroad and always went above and beyond. One in particular was the Courage To Care program, where he could console engineers and conductors in situations where they had faced hard times. He took great pride in being able to help them through their time of need. He was the best at what he did. Union Pacific was a huge part of his life and his families lives. He loved his job. He loved his boys, he loved his wife, he loved his family. He would say he was the lucky one, but we were the lucky ones. He never met a stranger. If you were blessed to have met Marty, you loved Marty. Marty is preceded in death by his brother Michael Allen Cotton; a sister Melissa Annette Spillman; and an aunt Sondra Hutchens. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Crystal Cotton of Magnolia; two sons, Maxwell Cotton of Craig, Colorado, Mason Cotton of Magnolia; his mother Carolyn Combs and her husband Sam of Pittsburg, Missouri; three grandchildren, J.D. Padilla, Persephone Cotton, and Lochlann Cotton; mother in law Rebecca Kinsch and husband Tommy of Douglass, Kansas; father in law Larry Janssen and wife Rita of Baldwin City, Kansas; sister in law Evette Fuerniss and husband Kim of Henderson, Nevada; and a host of extended family and friends. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, June 6, 2020 at First Baptist Church with Bro. Dustin Wiley and Lee Morris officiating. A guest book will be available on Friday, June 5, 2020 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm and Saturday June 6 from 9:00am - 1:00pm at the at Lewis Funeral Home, Inc. in Magnolia. Memorial Donations may be made to the National Park Foundation or to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. To sign the online guest book or share a memory visit www.lewisfuneralhome.biz