As received from Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Service:
UPDATE: A graveside service for James G. Cote will be held 2:30 PM Saturday, August 23, 2025, in the Chassell Cemetery.
James Gordon Cote was born on November 3, 1944, in Hancock, MI to William and Laura (Pakkala) Cote. He passed away on September 16, 2024, at Corewell Health Grand Rapids-Butterworth Hospital where he had been a patient having had heart surgery a few weeks before.
Jim spent his early years in L’Anse, MI where he attended school before moving with his family to Chassell at age 10. He was a graduate of Chassell High School. His best friends included Edsel and Melvin Siira, John Rautiola, and his cousin, Bud Deziel. Mike Stromer was also another close friend to Jim.
Jim was an artist, drawing in pen and pencil, and painting in oils and chalk. He was a prolific learner and reader and took courses in Martial Arts, world culture, history, philosophy, and religions. He studied Buddhism, Quantum Physics, Spanish and Russian languages, and much more. He loved hiking, camping, and exploring. He especially enjoyed deer hunting with his brother, Darwyn. Their stories would make you laugh until you cried.
He loved singing and played many instruments, especially the guitar and piano, and composed his own songs and music. He played Jazz, the Blues, Johnny Cash, and Christian Hymns. He was a comedian, spontaneous in life, and always seeing and inventing things from his own creative vision. He was working on a funny children’s story for his great-niece and great-nephew prior to his death. With a deep love of Christ, he studied the scriptures and was a passionate, sensitive, and caring person. He spent hours fervently praying for others, and supported charities, especially the Disabled Veterans and St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, SD.
He successfully battled colon cancer at the age of 50.
Jim’s work history included helping at Copper Harbor restaurants, the Hiawatha Drive Inn Theater in Chassell, where he got to see movies for free, “Ben Hur” being his favorite, driving bus for Houghton Schools, washing dishes at MTU, the Houghton County Road Commission, and a log truck driver. He then worked for 7 years on nightshift at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility as an orderly, moving on to maintenance, and ending his working career as the Activity Director, where many of his talents were able to shine. He had good memories of patients and staff, playing the piano and singing, with his own composed “Chicken Dance Song” being a favorite, and transporting patients on the Isle Royale Portage Cruises. He was loved and remembered by many.
Preceding him in death were his parents, his brother, Darwyn, and former wife, Carolyn Lowe.
Surviving are his stepdaughters, Carmen Jeffrey of Calumet and Amy (Josh) Mattson of Greenville, SC, his sons, Axel (DeAnna) Knight of Menominee, MI, and Michael (Rose) Cote of Hancock. He also has 11 step-grandchildren and 9 step-great-grandchildren. Surviving his are his sister, Laurel (Ron) Gray of Chassell, with their children Rebecca Gray (Tom), Heather (Craig) Tarvainen, Ben Gray, Jeremy Gray (Jody), Andrew Gray (Olivia), Sister-in-Law, Sue Cote, of Chassell, and her children, Gordette (Ed) Leutz, Athena Cote, Wil (Dara) Cote, and Brad (Holly) Cote. Numerous grand-nieces, nephews, and cousins, and his Aunt Anita Pakkala of Agate Beach. Thank you to Xavier, Samuel, and Sophia Tarvainen who helped Uncle Jim tremendously.
The family would also like to thank Ed and Gordette Leutz, Robert Kohtala, Paul Cote, Gordan and Karen Kreft, Dr. Sig Janners, Dr. Marilyn Dewald, Dr. Ronald Voice, Dr. Lori Vaughn, Dr. David Pesola, Dr. Merhi, and the medical crew at Corewell Health, Dr. Liston and the Wound Care Staff at Portage, Portage and Aspirus Home Health, and his nurses who gave him such good care, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, Little Brothers, Mercy Ambulance, Flagstar and Superior National Banks, and Memorial Chapel, all of whom have given so much time, kindness and care.
Jim’s body was donated to Gift of Life in Ann Arbor, MI to help burn victims and others. He was cremated and will be buried in the spring at the Chassell Cemetery. A celebration of his life will follow and posted at a later date.
To view his obituary or send condolences online to the family, please visit www.memorialchapel.net.
The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Services – Chassell Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.
