Ronald Lee Cottam

Ron was born May 9, 1952 to James Grant Cottam and Melba Eva Willardsen Cottam at Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. On October 2nd he was reunited with his son Jeremy. He was the youngest of three sons. He loved his two older brothers, Jim and John. They called each other Butchie, which would often be confusing when all three of them were in the same room or on the basketball court. Ron would often tell stories about his youth, and anything bad that happened was always the fault of his brothers. He was the baby of the family and could do no wrong! He spent his adolescent years on Capitol Hill, and then on Harvard Avenue. He loved that time of his life: climbing trees and fences and getting into mischief with his friends. The three boys learned the value of hard work during those years – helping their parents take care of their rental properties on G Street and Harvard Avenue. He attended Bonneville Elementary School and Clayton Junior High School for one year. Then his family moved up to Arcadia Heights, and he finished school at Hillside Junior High and Highland High School.

During those years he developed a love of basketball. He played on school and ward teams, and even though he didn’t gain his full height until after high school, he could jump and dunk the ball with the best of them. His love of basketball extended to a love of watching the University of Utah and the Utah Jazz. There was always a basketball or football game going on in the family room. Ron and his family loved going to Ephraim to visit family there. With his cousins Steve, Chris and Art they would hunt deer and pheasants every year. Some of his fondest memories came from his trips to Ephraim.

After high school he attended the University of Utah and graduated there with a degree in business communication. He was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Immediately following his graduation he was hired as a lease manager at Ryder Truck Rental in Salt Lake City. And that began his career in the truck leasing business. He excelled in the truck leasing area. He was inducted into the prestigious Ryder Roundtable for his outstanding performance as a lease manager. Some of his lifelong friendships – Bill Spiker, Scott Keller, Russ Castleberry and Merrill Vandermeyden – were made while working at Ryder. He loved to golf and they would all go golfing together. Following his time at Ryder Truck, he became the District Manager for Ruan Truck Leasing for two years. He was then approached and was hired by Penske Truck Leasing as their District Manager. He spent the remainder of his career as the Penske District Manager. He was a successful businessman throughout his career. He had a sign on his desk that said EFFORT EQUALS RESULTS. His career exemplified that thought.

In the spring of 1972 while working as a bellman at the Tri-Arc Travelodge in Salt Lake City, he met a waitress there named Shirley Plath. They began dating and were married on September 18, 1973. The marriage was solemnized a year later in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they raised four amazing children – Jeremy, Travis, Corinne and Trevor – on Daybreak Drive. The home was filled with love and laughter and a lot of kids! There was always a fridge full of soda pop, a basket of candy on the counter, and a puzzle on the family room table to keep everyone happy. Friends and family could often be seen around the kitchen table playing Phase 10. Or out on the driveway shooting hoops. Family always spent Thanksgiving and Christmas at the Cottam home.

There are so many wonderful and fond memories his children have growing up with their dad. They spent many days up at the family cabin in Oakley shooting pellet guns, sleeping under the stars and enjoying nature. Every summer we spent the Fourth of July up in Park City at the Silver King Hotel where we would swim, have water fights, and spending time with our closest friends the Leverichs. His favorite thing to do during family trips was to pass out cash and credit cards so all of the kids could go shopping. Their dad loved entertaining and spending time with family friends. The Cottam home was a gathering place to watch Jazz games, Ute games, or just hanging out. His love of basketball extended to playing the game Horse with his kids out front, and coaching his boys in Junior Jazz for nineteen years.

He kept a meticulously clean home and yard. His vacuum lines in the carpet and lines in the lawn were precise and spot on. He was always a very neatly dressed and clean person. You knew dad was around when you smelled a hint of Polo Cologne. He loved going out to eat, and his favorite restaurant by far was the Market Street Grill.

He had nine grandchildren that were his world. He would do anything for them. He would send texts each morning with his favorite pics of his grandkids and would call them daily to talk to them. His grandkids loved their Papa. We mourn the loss of our husband, father, grandfather and brother, and the good man that he was. He will be greatly missed. We are grateful for our knowledge of the resurrection and that we can be with him again.

Ron is survived by his wife Shirley, his two sons Travis (Brittany) Cottam of Bluffdale, Trevor (Rebecca) Cottam of South Jordan, his daughter Corinne (Christopher) Richter of Herriman, and his nine grandchildren: Eli, Gracie, Jackson, Bridger, Reagan, Zachary, Parker, Owen and Emma. He was preceded in death by his son Jeremy, and his father and mother.

Funeral services will be held Friday, October 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Meadowlark Ward building, 2180 E. Meadowlark Way, Sandy, Utah. Family and friends may visit at the Meadowlark Building on Thursday, October 9, 2025 from 6:00 pm. To 8:00 p.m. and at the Meadowlark Building one hour prior to services.

To view a recording of Ron's service, please click on the blue tab above that says "Watch Service".