Gary Lee Cotter, age 85, of Starke, Florida, went home to Heaven on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Mr. Cotter moved to Starke 3 years ago after living many years in Kansas City, Missouri. He was born on June 4, 1940, to Clyde and Helen Hunt Cotter in Springfield, Missouri. Gary served in the United States Army. After the Army, he began his career with Frisco/Burlington Northern, where he worked for 33 years and retired as a Carman and member of the Wrecking Crew. Gary and Mary Jane were members of Antioch Bible Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, for 24 years. They taught the first grade Sunday School class for more than 20 of those years. He and Mary Jane were also very active in a large senior citizen group at the church. After moving to Florida in July of 2022, Gary became a member of Madison Street Baptist Church in Starke, where he was a member of the choir and served in AWANA. Gary found much enjoyment and loved working on computers, and was an avid golfer. He was a generous person and was a lifelong supporter of missions and supported several missionaries over the years. Gary was preceded in death by his parents and a son, David Craig Cotter. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Mary Jane Dunn Cotter; brothers, Jim Wilson (Melba) and Paul Cotter; sisters, Pam Fuhrman (Allen), Sharon Manary (Ken), and Judy Jones; grandchildren, David Cotter Jr., and Kara Montgomery; along with several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at Madison Street Baptist Church, 900 West Madison Street, Starke, Florida, with Pastor Richard Cason officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Jacksonville National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in honor of Gary be made to Paul and Doris Brock, lifelong missionaries to Germany. Donations can be sent to GIBM (Global Independent Baptist Missions), P.O. Box 700, Sherman, TX  75091. Please note the donation is for the Brocks. Cremation arrangements entrusted to the dedicated care of BLACKBURN-CURRY FUNERAL AND CREMATION, 380 N. Lowder Street, Macclenny, Florida 32063. (904) 259-2806.