Mr. Wilton “Ray” Cottle, 61, of Naknek, Alaska, passed away at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021.
Mr. Cottle was born on Jan. 19, 1960. in Brunswick to the late David Edgar Cottle Sr. and Bettie Lee Beville Cottle. He and his four older siblings were raised in Woodbine. He was a member of the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Ray graduated from Camden County High School in 1978. He later became a graduate of the diesel auto mechanics program at South Georgia Technical & Vocational College. Ray moved to Naknek, Alaska. There, he worked several different jobs before taking a position at the Bristol Bay School District Maintenance Department. This landed him a job at the Southwest Alaska Vocational & Education Center in the maintenance department, which was a position he held for 14 years.
Ray loved nothing more than getting together with his family and friends. He always looked forward to his annual boat trips with his many friends to the Bay of Islands in the middle of the Aleutian chain of the Alaskan peninsula. He was a very active member of the community, serving as a board member of the Naknek phone company, was a member of The Elks and even dressed as the Easter bunny for children and adults to enjoy the holiday. Ray made as many trips back to his Georgia home to visit his mother and family as often as he could and he made many lasting friendships in Naknek, which he called his second home. He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.
Ray is survived by his brother, Jimmy and Diann Cottle; his sister, Cheryl and Burwell Russell Jr.; his daughter, Joanie; his beloved grandson, Kenan; and his many nieces and nephews. Along with Ray’s parents, David Sr. and Bettie, he also joins his brothers, David Jr. and Bennie in Heaven.
Ray’s memorial service will be held graveside in Colesburg Cemetery in Woodbine on Saturday, Dec. 18 with the family receiving friends at 12:30 p.m. The service will begin at 1 p.m. with pastors Eddie Rawl and Martin Turner presiding.
Coastal Camden Funeral Home of Kingsland is in charge of arrangements.