Bottom began his training career in 1950 and showed his first cutting horse, an ex-roper named Grey Nellie H, at Vernon, Texas in 1954.
By the 1960s, he began breeding his own line of horses based on the foundation bloodlines of Oklahoma Star and Bert. The foundation sire of his breeding herd was Lucy Star Mac, who has produced the Lucky Bottom bloodline.
He was a finalist in the first NCHA Futurity in 1962, and he rode Lucky Bottom Me, a Lucky Star Mac daughter, to the reserve championship of the 1980 NCHA Futurity.
He raised and showed many top horses over the years. Leading up to the Legends Cutting in Temple, Texas in 1992, he said, “I spent a lot of time on the road, but had always rather been at the house. But if I hadn’t enjoyed it so much, I wouldn’t have been there.”
Visitation is Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 7 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. at Swearingen Funeral Home, Konawa, Oklahoma. (580) 925-3252. Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 29th at the Agri-Plex in Ada, Oklahoma under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Vista Cemetery. Donnie Gee and Shannon Hall will officiate.
Pallbearers are Tony Kuestersteffen, Jim Sharp, Mason Allen, Ron Phay, Gaylon Wells, Sonny O’Dell, Jerry Bob Seago, and Junior Grissom. Honorary Pallbearers are Gary Fry, Ham Brown, James Hargrove, John Carter, Roger Harris, Glen Pruitt, Jack Turner, C.J. Sisco, Eddie Bottom, Jr., Chad Wartchow, Mark Wartchow, Ronnie Wartchow, Steve Miles, Richard Sisco, Dan Fleming, Jason Keck, and Greg Hillerman.
He is survived by one son, Eddie Wayne Bottom and wife, Charlotte of Macomb, Oklahoma; three daughters, Darla Miles and husband, Steve of Asher, Oklahoma, Connie Wartchow and husband, Ronnie of Roff, Oklahoma, and Phyllis Sisco and husband, Richard of Asher, Oklahoma; eight grandchildren, Chad Wartchow, Mark Wartchow, Melanie Keck, Steffanie Fleming, Eddie Bottom, Jr., C.J. Sisco, Mike Sisco, and Ricky Sisco; ten great grandchildren, Sean Fleming, Shelby Fleming, Sarah Fleming, Carley Collings, Coy Wartchow, Riley Wartchow, McKenzie Wartchow, Andrew Fleming, Chelsy Bottom, and Braxten Frasier.
He and his wife, Lillie, were married 66 years until her death in 2009.