Claude Cotterell

CLAUDE COTTERELL, 92 of Charleston, IL passed away at 9:45 P.M. on Friday, November 17, 2017 at the Odd Fellow Rebekah Home in Mattoon, IL.

A memorial service will be held at 12:30 P.M. on Sunday, December 3, 2017 at Kingdom Hall, 3322 DeWitt Avenue in Mattoon, IL.  Speaker, Richard Martin will officiate.

Claude was born on April 5, 1925 in Clay County, IL.   He was the son of Arvin P. and Edna L. (Cather) Cotterell.   He married Frances K. Hanley on May 31, 1943 in St. Charles, MO.

He is survived by his wife Frances, of 74 ½ years; two daughters, Clara (John) Smith of Homosassa Springs, FL and Kathy (Terry) Hartley of Charleston, IL; five grandchildren, Claudia Smith of Rockford, IL, Johnna Smith of St. Louis, MO, Rob Smith of Alamo, TN, Greg (Tonya) Hartley and Amy Alexander all of Charleston, IL; six great-grandchildren, Kira (Brock) Runner, Brianna Hartley, Jessica Alexander, Wessley Alexander, Katie (Adam) Goetz and Caleb Smith; two great-great-grandchildren, Lukas J. Goetz and an infant to be born in 2018; three half siblings, Margaret E. Montoya of Iowa, Floyd Cotterell of Kentucky and Leonard Cotterell of Germany.

Claude was preceded in death by his parents and six half siblings, Mary Cotterell, Minnie Goodwin, William T. Cotterell, Grace P. Snider, Charles Aleshire and Arlene O. Pentz.

Claude was an Army Veteran of WW II.   He served in the Rhineland Campaign and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

He was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Charleston, IL.

Claude had worked for Howell Asphalt Co. as a construction foreman.  Hewas an over the road truck driver for many years.   He owned and operated Jet Construction in Kansas City, Kansas.   He retired as a mail carrier for   the United States Postal Service in Kansas City, Kansas. He also served as a politician in Kansas City, Kansas.

Claude had his pilots license and he enjoyed flying for recreational purposes.   He never met a stranger.   He loved to talk and tell stories.   He was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.   He enjoyed living life to the fullest.