Alice Lorraine Cotten, 88 of Russell, Kansas died Thursday morning, June 30, 2011 at Main Street Manor in Russell.

Alice was born June 8, 1923 on the family farm in Russell County near the Milberger area.  She was the daughter of J. Benjamin and Lydia (Miller) Boxberger.  She grew up in the Milberger area and attended country schools.

Alice was united in marriage to Palmer Luther Cotten on September 21, 1947 in Lyons, Kansas.  This union was blessed with two children, William and Shirley.  They made their home in Lyons for a few years before moving back to Alice’s family farm and taking over the farming.

Alice and her husband Palmer farmed together for many years before retiring in 1981.  They then moved into Russell where Alice volunteered at the Russell Hospital for 15 years as a Grey Lady.  She also conducted aerobics classes at the Russell Senior Center for over 12 years.  Palmer preceded her in death on July 17, 1997.

Alice is a member of St. John Lutheran Church and the Altar Society.  She enjoyed spending time in her garden and tending her flowers, but she loved to play cards.

Surviving family include her son, William Cotten of Vinita, Oklahoma; daughter, Shirley Kraft of Avondale, Arizona; two brothers, Eugene Boxberger of Mt. Vernon, Missouri and Marvin Boxberger of Russell, Kansas; two sisters, Delores Ochs of Great Bend, Kansas and Irene Strecker of Denver, Colorado; five grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.  She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Rosie Boxberger and granddaughter Stacey Mermis.

Celebration of Alice’s Life will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at St. John Lutheran Church of Russell.  A private family interment will follow at a later time.  Visitation will be from 9 AM to Noon on Tuesday at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary.  The family will be greeting friends following the memorial service.  A memorial has been established with St. John Lutheran Church.  Contributions and condolences may be sent in care of Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell who is in charge of these arrangements.