Gracie Avo (Lee) Cotter was born April 12, 1936 in Francis, Oklahoma to Jessie Evans Lee and Rosie Lea (Allen) Lee, the seventh of seven children. She married Ray Cotter Jr. June 2, 1955 and they moved to Wasco, California in 1956. They lived in Pine Flat from 1991 to 2006 when they returned to Wasco. Gracie worked as a babysitter in their home, a salesperson at Sprouse, and as an aid and yard lady with Wasco Elementary School District. Gracie was involved in the PTA, Bluebirds, Campfire Girls, Cub Scouts and 4-H. She and Ray were members of the Church of Christ. Gracie walked and knew everybody on the block; she wrote poetry, kept journals, dabbled in art and painting, embroidery and sewing, tried new recipes and enjoyed traveling. Gracie is survived by her husband of 59 years, Ray Cotter, Jr. of Wasco; daughter, Rose and husband Robert Dulaney and their son, R.J.; daughter, Shirrel Sanford and her daughter, Jami; son, James Cotter and wife JoAnn and their daughter, Tanya, the mother of Gracie's great granddaughter, Radley. Gracie was preceded in death by her parents, Jessie Evans Lee and Rosie Lea Lee; siblings, George M. Lee, Cordell Lee, Model Rice, Raymond Paul Lee, Etmo Alexander and James Lee; and son-in-law, John T. Sanford. A graveside service will be held Friday, July 18 at 9:30am at Wasco Memorial Park for Gracie Avo Cotter, age 78, of Wasco who passed away July 13, 2014 in Bakersfield. Miguel Salazar will officiate the service and interment will follow. Visitation will be held Thursday, July 17 from 4-8pm at Peters Funeral Home, Wasco.