Purvis “Earl” Cotten, 83, passed from this life on Monday, September 3, 2018, while surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 29, 1935 in Harrisonburg to the union of his parents, Purvis and Eva Young Cotten. Earl was a proud Navy veteran and served the United States on the USS Shanagri-La. An avid bluegrass music enthusiast, Earl enjoyed playing his fiddle, visiting the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree, and listening to Bill Monroe. Earl was happiest while hunting in the Miss- Lou area woods, especially during squirrel season. He served as Concordia Parish’s constable and owned and operated Earl Cotten and Sons Painting. Services were held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 8, at Meyer Bend Pentecostal Church near Harrisonburg with Brother Robert Martin officiating. Interment followed in the Westbrooks Swilley Cemetery under direction of Bateaste Memorial Funeral Home of Natchez, MS. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Grace Cotten, Vergie Westbrooks, and Laura Mae Curry; and a brother, Nathan Cotten. He leaves to cherish his memories, his wife of 60 years, Corrine Cotten; four children, Mikey (JoAnn) Bumgarner, Eugene (Melinda Murchie) Cotten, Allen Cotten and Cecelia Cotten Wheeler; his brother, Larry Cotten; five sisters, Helen, Rose, Jane, Evelyn, and Dorise; 11 grandchildren, Josh, Caleb, Elizabeth, Adam, Erika, Daniel, Seth, Leah, Catherine, Dylan and Devyn; and 12 great grandchildren. Pallbearers were Dylan Sandidge, Joseph Bumgarner, Seth Cotten, Devyn Sandidge, Noah Bumgarner, and Caleb Cotten. Honorary pallbearers were Josh Cotten and Adam Bumgarner.