Annie Louise (Cottle) Hayden

April 7, 1931 to January 27, 2024

Born April 7, 1931 in Shreveport Louisiana to Loia Ethel (Menefee) and John Bunyan Cottle. In 1956 Annie married Bill Gunter Hayden. Bill served in the US Navy in WWII and was a successful salesman and entrepreneur, establishing Hayden Honda in 1969 in Center Texas. Bill died in 2000. They had one son, John Wiley Hayden, in 1957.

Annie, known by her middle name Louise, attended Center High School graduating in 1948. During summers she worked for her father as a photographer's assistant, printed photos, colorized black and white photos, and occasionally did portrait photography at her father's Cottle Portrait Studio at 124 Wheeler Ave in Center. After high school her first job was at her father's studio. The following year in 1949, she worked as secretary at Elliott & Waldron Abstract Co. In 1951 she worked for JW Holsey as secretary/notary until 1959. Her longest employment was at E L Bruce company from 1959 to 1971, a national producer of wood flooring with a plant in Center Texas. In 1972 she joined her husband at Hayden Honda which expanded to Hayden Distributors in 1983. On her own, at age 62 Annie Louise started Hayden Insurance Agency in 1993 which she successfully ran for two decades. With her husband she travelled to Japan in 1970 and 1972, and Europe in 1974.

Annie Louise passed quietly at Pine Grove Nursing home in Center from the afflictions of old age at 92. She was a follower of Jesus and has now gone to Him.

She is survived by her son John, daughter-in-law Denise, grandchildren Ian, Sean and Anita; grand-daughter-in-law Renee, great-grandchildren Seamus, Tess and Anaximander; and her close friend Sue Gill who became like a daughter. Also survived by Alyne McDaniel, her cousin.  They were like sisters their entire lives.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center.  Interment will follow at Newburn Cemetery in Shelby County.