Allen B. Coté Sr., 78

DOVER - Allen B. Coté Sr. of Dover passed away Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. He was 78.

He was born July 27, 1929, in Chester, Pa., to the late Albert B. and Antonia E. (Brunet) Coté.

He was married to late Katherine A. (Arney) Coté, who passed in July 2006. They were married in Elkton, Md., on July 27, 1961.

Mr. Coté lived in Delaware all his life. He owned and operated Coté Motors Wholesalers, buying and selling cars along the East Coast for 52 years.

One of his greatest pleasures in life was the love of the automobile. Mr. Coté's interest in the automobile sparked his large collection of model cars and trucks.

He also enjoyed traveling the U.S. in his motor home with his wife and pets, as well the company of his very good friends, Raymond and Mary Virginia Morgan.

Mr. Coté spent many "happy hours" socializing in local establishments with his family and friends.

He was a member of the Delaware Automobile Dealers Association, Dover Elks 1903, Camden-Wyoming Moose 203, American Legion and the Delaware Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a sister, Annette Coté.

He is survived by his sons and their wives, Allen B. and Novella Coté Jr., Mike and Karen Coté and Richard and Anna Coté, all of Dover; his daughters and their husbands, Helen "Beth" and Lonnie Stetzler of Tampa, Fla., Judith A. and John Haughton and Annette and Stanley Smith, all of Dover; 19 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Remembrance services will be 11 a.m. Friday in Trader Funeral Home, Dover, where friends may call one hour prior.

Burial will be at the Sharon Hills Memorial Park, Dover.

The family requests that memorial contributions be given to Diabetes Association, 100 W. 10th St., Suite 102, Wilmington, DE 19801; and/or Dover Elks 1903, 280 Salisbury Road, Dover, DE 19904.