James R. Cottengim James R. (Jim) Cottengim died October 12, 2011, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon, MO. He was born July 4, 1940, in Mountain Grove, MO to the late Merton and Inez (Tetrick) Cottengim. Jim spent a great deal of time with his grandparents, the late Terrell and Elizabeth Tetrick. After graduating from Mountain Grove High School in 1958, he worked in California and Idaho before joining the U.S. Army in 1964 and served as an illustrator for three years with the Fifth Army at Ft. Riley, KS. Honored as Soldier of the Year at Ft. Riley, Jim painted portraits of generals and one of the last cavalry horses. Jim worked as a sign painter for Missouri Neon in Springfield when he moved back to Missouri for four years before training as a firefighter and EMT. He began working for the Springfield Fire Department in 1971 and retired as a Captain in 1995. Named Firefighter of the Year in 1994, Jim designed and created many educational projects for children. In 1991 he designed a new logo for the Springfield Fire Department and in 1993 painted a life net which hangs in Springfield Old City Hall. The net picture depicts a horse-drawn fire engine racing to a fire. A snippet of the scene illustrates the Springfield Fire Department overview web page. Jim also did a portrait of Becky, the department's Dalmatian, who "assisted" with educational activities. In addition to being skilled as a sign painter, Jim was an illustrator and very fine artist. His work won numerous awards in Missouri and Montana. Jim met his wife Holly Ricks-Miller at an artist's workshop in 1985. They became friends and Jim visited Holly and her family at their home in Montana. They married in March 2008 and built a studio in Springfield where they painted together every day. They hosted a life-drawing group every week working with models and other artists in Springfield. They opened an art gallery at the two homes they owned in Springfield and Dillion, MT. Jim's generous disposition and expertise was appreciated and the Arts Council of Mountain Grove honored Jim with an art show of his work in 2009. In addition to parents and grandparents, Jim was preceded in death by his sister Jane Demaske. He is survived by his loving wife Holly of their home in Dillion MT, his sister Jeanne Bowen of Pueblo CO, nieces, nephews, cousins, and other friends and relatives who will miss him greatly. Memorial services will be at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery, Monday, October 24, at 1:00 p.m. under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral home. Military and firefighter honor guards will be present. Donations can be made in memory of Jim to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a facility he supported.