Cotton Hargrove

Vester “Cotton” Hargrove, 86, of Amarillo and formerly of Pampa, passed away on April 14, 2025, in Amarillo.

Memorial services will be 10:00 AM, Monday, April 21, 2025, at the Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel with Rev. Norman Rushing, a retired Baptist minister, officiating. Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

Cotton was born September 21, 1938, in Henrietta, TX to Syl and Inez Hargrove. He attended Midvay grade school and then moved to Follett at the age of 11. Cotton graduated from high school in 1957. He married his high school sweetheart, and three great children were born out of this marriage.

After graduation, he moved to Perryton and worked in the oil field for a few years as a heavy machinery operator. Thereafter, Cotton moved to Pampa and took employment at Coca-Cola for eight years. Then, Cotton started with the Cabot Corporation/ National Oilwell as a welder and drill press operator for 14 years. Following his work at Cabot, he entered the law enforcement industry. Cotton worked for the Gray County Sheriff's office and proudly retired after 22 years of service and as a sergeant.

He loved to ride bulls but later he decided he wasn’t very good at it. However, Cotton continued his love for rodeo by attending and taking pictures at the events. He also liked wildlife photography, especially in the Red River, NM areas as well. Cotton was a talented athlete where he excelled in baseball, playing in the American League, semi-pro baseball, and fast-pitch softball as a third baseman. In other interests, Cotton loved bowling and golfing. In his later years, Cotton loved to spend time on his porch drinking coffee and watching the planes take off and land at the airport by his house.

He was preceded in death by his, parents; Bobby Hargrove (son); and Marlene Meller(sister).

Cotton is survived by his son, Denny Hargrove; a daughter, Nancy & Jerry Don Mackie (husband); siblings, Kenneth Hargrove, Ronnie & Gloria (wife) Hargrove, Florene & Jordy Ray (husband) Gillespie, and Judy Watson; grandchildren, Misty & Philip Murrack (husband), Matt Garvin & Amanda (wife), Taylor Hargrove, Savannah Hargrove, Amber & Brian Weaver (husband), Melody Hargrove, Jessa Hargrove, and Kyle Hargrove; greatgrandchildren, Bryson, Jacob, Ashlyn, Braydon, Emma, Autumn, Liam, Max, McKinsey, and Jordon; great-greatgrandchildren, Emersyn, and Lynnox; and other extended family.