Lavina Elizabeth Cotten was born on February 18, 1934 in Sharon Springs, Kansas, the daughter of Wilbert and Hattie Elizabeth (Leach) Bent.  Coincidentally, Lavina shares the same date of birth, February 18th with her mom.

When she was two years old, her family moved to Boron, California.  She had seven brothers and one sister.  In June 1951, Lavina graduated from Boron High School.  She moved to South Gate, California in 1952.  Lavina became the proud mother to eight children; four of her daughters survive – Sherrie Marie Cotten Bright, Terrie Lee Barse, Trudie Lynn Hoffman, and Candi Elizabeth Tankersley.

Lavina and her husband, Truhman L. Cotten moved to Gallup in March 1969.  Later, she opened Grandma's Daycare which she ran until her retirement in 2006.  Lavina always said she "needed to fill the nest" after all of her kids were out of the house.  Lavina loved children and was called "Grandma" by everyone.

Following her retirement, Lavina and Truhman made their home in Kansas.   After his death, Lavina moved to Marble, Minnesota.

Lavina passed away February 15, 2024 at Garden Court Chateau in Grand Rapids as her family had been gathered beside her for the last several days.

Her family will celebrate her life in their ways.  No formal service is planned at this time.