COTANT, HARVEY AND ELVA (WILLIS)
Elva Pearl (Willis) Cotant was born Jan-uary 30, 1909 at Aurora, Nebraska, Hamilton County, daughter of Stephen Griffith Willis (born February 20, 1878) and Sarah Ella (Herbig) (born January 21, 1881) Willis. When she was ten years old her parents bought a 1160 acre ranch in South Cherry County, eight and one-half miles northwest of Mullen, Nebraska. The place was known as the Pete Kaasa ranch. In December 1919 the family moved to the ranch to live. Her father, mother, a brother, Ralph Eugene, and a sister Vera Lucille, made up the family.
Elva's schooling was spent attending grade school at Jacoby School Dist. 70, Aurora and Pacific Dist. 69 Cherry County, Nebraska. She never attended High School, but helped her folks on the ranch miling cows, raising chickens, gardening, working in the hayfield and other chores.
On February 26, 1930 she married William Harvey Cotant at Valentine, Nebraska by County Judge O.W. McDaniel. William Har-vey was born June 7, 1903 at Laurens, Iowa, the son of Mary Olive Knutson. He passed away May 9, 1974.
After marriage they lived on several ranches in Cherry County, ranching, farming, and working out. In 1937 Harvey built his own well drilling outfit and made wells for the ranchers. From 1937 until 1964 he had drilled over 400 wells.
They had eight children, seven were born in Cherry County and the eighth in Hooker County. Their schooling was in Cherry and Hooker County schools and all of them graduated from Mullen High School. All eight of the children attended the Mullen Alumni Banquet for the first time in June, 1981.
The family had to leave the ranch and move to Mullen to educate the children. They bought a few lots in west Mullen, north side of the railroad. They moved some buildings from the country and a little three room house onto these lots. (1947) There was no electricity, no water in the house, no bath-room and all the water was carried from the well that Harvey had drilled in January 1947.
Harvey drove a Propane gas truck for Farmers Elevator from 1953 to 1960, when he started driving the Propane gas truck and the Gasoline and Fuel Oil trucks for Mullen Co-op. He drove both of these trucks until September 1970. He continued driving the Gasoline and Fuel Oil truck until his death in May, 1974.
Their eight children are: William Harold,
1932; Willis Glenn,
1934; Shirley Maurine, 1937; Garry Allen, 1939; Vonnie Mae Ilene, 1941; Douglas Arthur,
1943; Mary Jane, 1945; Dennis Michael, 1948.
The children have all married: William Harold married Delores Agnes Gasseling on August 21, 1961. They have three children, Stephen Thomas 1963; Sarah Lynne, 1967; Marc William,
1980.
Willis Glen married Linda Marie Christen-sen on September 23, 1960; they have two sons, Curtis Glenn, 1962; Keith Edward, 1966.
Shirley Maurine married Vernon Verl Shears on May 10, 1959. They have three children, Verlon Harvey, 1960; Vickie Maurine, 1962; Marvin Joe, 1963.
Garry Allen married Sharyl Hatcher on May 10, 1975. No family.
Vonnie May Ilene married Dale LeRoy Barr on June 15, 1969. They have three sons, Rodney Dale, 1970; Randall LeRoy,
1972; Roger Arthur, 1973.
Douglas Arthur married Mary Irene Weth-erilt McClure on July 14, 1977. Mary had a son Patrick James Todd McClure, 1972. Douglas and Mary have four daughters Teresa Elizabeth, 1978; Stephanie Lea, 1981; Denise Michelle 1983; Christina Louise,
1985.
Mary Jane married Leroy Don Younkin on June 18, 1967. They have four children. Michael Todd, 1968; Kevin Roy,
1971; Crystal Dawn, 1973; Maria Lynn, 1982.
Dennis Michael married Mica Sherry Maucher on June 9, 1974. Mica has a son by her first marriage McKenley Fredrick,
1971. Kenley makes his home with Dennis and attends school.
Elva has spent her spare time caring for her home, yard and gardens. In the winter months she spends time piecing quilts that she has shared with her children and grand-children. She also has a large scrap-book collection she enjoys. She has put together several Family Histories. She also enjoys embroidery work such as pillow cases and tea towels and has taken part in 29 Hooker County fairs.