COTANT, HARVEY AND ELVA (WILLIS)

by Elva Cotant

Entry F92 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Cotant Family, June 1981. Back row - Harold, Willis, Douglas, Garry, Dennis
(Mick). Front row- Mother-Elva, Shirley(Shears) Vonnie(Barr) Mary Jane(Younkin)

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.