Mary Elizabeth Cottom
August 18, 1944 — February 27, 2023
Mary Elizabeth Cottom died Monday, February 27, 2023. She was born August 18, 1944 in Manhattan, to Herman B. and Allene E. (O'Neill) Brumm. She attended Manhattan Schools, graduating from Manhattan High in 1962, followed by two years at Washburn University in Topeka, KS.
On August 18, 1968 she married Melvin C (Mel) Cottom in Manhattan. He was a member of the electrical engineering faculty at Kansas State University. He died November 19, 2011 in Manhattan.
They shared a longtime interest in history and the arts, and were active supporters of many organizations. Over the years, she served on the boards of the Riley County Historical Society, Kansas State Historical Society and the Friends Advisory Board of the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art.
She was also preceded in death by her parents and brother, Larry Brumm.
Survivors include an extraordinary group of friends including Julie, Mitch, Janet, Stormy, George, Jeri, Shirley, Chris, Tom, Virginia and Brenda.
Memorials have been established with the KSU Foundation for Beach Museum of Art 2323 Anderson Ave #500 Manhattan, KS 66502 or The Washburn University Foundation for the Sunflower Music Festival Endowment .
There were no services. Burial was in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Zeandale Township Community, Manhattan.
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