James Merrill Cottrell, 46, of Orem, UT passed away in Gavilana, Panama on Tuesday, 4 August 2020.
James was born on the San Blas Islands of Panama on 14 November 1973 with the name of Anelio Grimaldo Rios. He was adopted at the age of 4 1/2 years old by Russell Grant Cottrell & Shirley Ann Merrill.
James is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission in Guayaquil North, Ecuador from 1993-94.
James loved wrestling from childhood through High School. He also played football. He also would put on the OHS tiger mascot outfit with pride. He later began boxing and that led to Ultimate Combat Fighting. James served on the Orem High School Class of 1992 student council his graduating year. He had the nickname of "Kuna". He could break dance better than anyone we knew.
James served in the Marine Corps as a Sniper for almost eight years. He did four overseas tours in the Middle East. In his first tour, before the invasion of Iraq had even begun, he was instrumental in stopping a terrorist attack on the Kuwaiti island of Faylaka. James earned the nickname of "Pocket, Hercules and No Neck". James served two combat tours in Iraq. He fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom and during his second tour in Iraq, he fought in the Second Battle of Fallujah, which proved to be the bloodiest battle of the Iraq War and the bloodiest battle involving American troops since the Vietnam War. He served with honor and distinction. James was an honest-to-goodness war hero. James suffered from PTSD after serving in the war.
James loved his family, especially his nieces and nephews. He enjoyed scaring them around every corner. James loved animals and always had a dog by his side. He loved the outdoors, and enjoyed hiking and running. James enjoyed mountain dew, mustard and snickers.
James was soft-spoken, and looked out for others. James will be missed by all who loved and met him.
James is survived by his mother, Shirley Cottrell of Orem, UT; sisters, Donna (Ken) Heslin of Billings, MT; Delsi Benson of Eagle Mountain, UT; Debra (Roger) Johnson of Pleasant Grove, UT; Darla (George) Anderson of Wellington, UT; Diane (Clint) Smith of S. Ogden, UT; Dora (Warren) Workman of Vineyard, UT; John *deceased (Natasha Fedrigotti) of Eagle Mountain, UT; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his father, Russell Cottrell; Brother, John Cottrell; Nephews, Peter Smith and Spencer Benson.
James is also survived by his biological family in Akua Yala, Bayao, Panama, Brothers, Adelfino (Anadelis) Rios; Abdiel Rios; Sisters, Laura (David) Bieberach; Rosalina (Jorg) Muñoz; and many nieces and nephews.
He is also preceded in death by his parents, Avelino Grimaldo & Benita Rios; and Brother Luciano Rios.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:30am on Friday, 25 August 2020 at the American Fork Amphitheater, at 851 E 700 N, American Fork, UT 84003. A viewing (closed casket) will be held at 10:00am before services. Feel free to bring a blanket and/or a hat, as it may be sunny!
Graveside Services will be held at Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park, 17111 South Camp Williams Road, Bluffdale, UT 84065. (by invitation only as space is limited.)
*You must wear masks, and be watchful of others! (AF will not be held responsible)
**In lieu of flowers please donate to the Wounded Warrior Project @ https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
James was born on the San Blas Islands of Panama on 14 November 1973 with the name of Anelio Grimaldo Rios. He was adopted at the age of 4 1/2 years old by Russell Grant Cottrell & Shirley Ann Merrill.
James is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission in Guayaquil North, Ecuador from 1993-94.
James loved wrestling from childhood through High School. He also played football. He also would put on the OHS tiger mascot outfit with pride. He later began boxing and that led to Ultimate Combat Fighting. James served on the Orem High School Class of 1992 student council his graduating year. He had the nickname of "Kuna". He could break dance better than anyone we knew.
James served in the Marine Corps as a Sniper for almost eight years. He did four overseas tours in the Middle East. In his first tour, before the invasion of Iraq had even begun, he was instrumental in stopping a terrorist attack on the Kuwaiti island of Faylaka. James earned the nickname of "Pocket, Hercules and No Neck". James served two combat tours in Iraq. He fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom and during his second tour in Iraq, he fought in the Second Battle of Fallujah, which proved to be the bloodiest battle of the Iraq War and the bloodiest battle involving American troops since the Vietnam War. He served with honor and distinction. James was an honest-to-goodness war hero. James suffered from PTSD after serving in the war.
James loved his family, especially his nieces and nephews. He enjoyed scaring them around every corner. James loved animals and always had a dog by his side. He loved the outdoors, and enjoyed hiking and running. James enjoyed mountain dew, mustard and snickers.
James was soft-spoken, and looked out for others. James will be missed by all who loved and met him.
James is survived by his mother, Shirley Cottrell of Orem, UT; sisters, Donna (Ken) Heslin of Billings, MT; Delsi Benson of Eagle Mountain, UT; Debra (Roger) Johnson of Pleasant Grove, UT; Darla (George) Anderson of Wellington, UT; Diane (Clint) Smith of S. Ogden, UT; Dora (Warren) Workman of Vineyard, UT; John *deceased (Natasha Fedrigotti) of Eagle Mountain, UT; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his father, Russell Cottrell; Brother, John Cottrell; Nephews, Peter Smith and Spencer Benson.
James is also survived by his biological family in Akua Yala, Bayao, Panama, Brothers, Adelfino (Anadelis) Rios; Abdiel Rios; Sisters, Laura (David) Bieberach; Rosalina (Jorg) Muñoz; and many nieces and nephews.
He is also preceded in death by his parents, Avelino Grimaldo & Benita Rios; and Brother Luciano Rios.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:30am on Friday, 25 August 2020 at the American Fork Amphitheater, at 851 E 700 N, American Fork, UT 84003. A viewing (closed casket) will be held at 10:00am before services. Feel free to bring a blanket and/or a hat, as it may be sunny!
Graveside Services will be held at Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park, 17111 South Camp Williams Road, Bluffdale, UT 84065. (by invitation only as space is limited.)
*You must wear masks, and be watchful of others! (AF will not be held responsible)
**In lieu of flowers please donate to the Wounded Warrior Project @ https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
James Merrill Cottrell, 46, of Orem, UT passed away in Gavilana, Panama on Tuesday, 4 August 2020.
James was born on the San Blas Islands of Panama on 14 November 1973 with the name of Anelio Grimaldo Rios. He was adopted at the age of 4 1/2 years old by Russell Grant Cottrell & Shirley Ann Merrill.
James is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission in Guayaquil North, Ecuador from 1993-94.
James loved wrestling from childhood through High School. He also played football. He also would put on the OHS tiger mascot outfit with pride. He later began boxing and that led to Ultimate Combat Fighting. James served on the Orem High School Class of 1992 student council his graduating year. He had the nickname of "Kuna". He could break dance better than anyone we knew.
James served in the Marine Corps as a Sniper for almost eight years. He did four overseas tours in the Middle East. In his first tour, before the invasion of Iraq had even begun, he was instrumental in stopping a terrorist attack on the Kuwaiti island of Faylaka. James earned the nickname of "Pocket, Hercules and No Neck". James served two combat tours in Iraq. He fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom and during his second tour in Iraq, he fought in the Second Battle of Fallujah, which proved to be the bloodiest battle of the Iraq War and the bloodiest battle involving American troops since the Vietnam War. He served with honor and distinction. James was an honest-to-goodness war hero. James suffered from PTSD after serving in the war.
James loved his family, especially his nieces and nephews. He enjoyed scaring them around every corner. James loved animals and always had a dog by his side. He loved the outdoors, and enjoyed hiking and running. James enjoyed mountain dew, mustard and snickers.
James was soft-spoken, and looked out for others. James will be missed by all who loved and met him.
James is survived by his mother, Shirley Cottrell of Orem, UT; sisters, Donna (Ken) Heslin of Billings, MT; Delsi Benson of Eagle Mountain, UT; Debra (Roger) Johnson of Pleasant Grove, UT; Darla (George) Anderson of Wellington, UT; Diane (Clint) Smith of S. Ogden, UT; Dora (Warren) Workman of Vineyard, UT; John *deceased (Natasha Fedrigotti) of Eagle Mountain, UT; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his father, Russell Cottrell; Brother, John Cottrell; Nephews, Peter Smith and Spencer Benson.
James is also survived by his biological family in Akua Yala, Bayao, Panama, Brothers, Adelfino (Anadelis) Rios; Abdiel Rios; Sisters, Laura (David) Bieberach; Rosalina (Jorg) Muñoz; and many nieces and nephews.
He is also preceded in death by his parents, Avelino Grimaldo & Benita Rios; and Brother Luciano Rios.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:30am on Friday, 25 August 2020 at the American Fork Amphitheater, at 851 E 700 N, American Fork, UT 84003. A viewing (closed casket) will be held at 10:00am before services. Feel free to bring a blanket and/or a hat, as it may be sunny!
Graveside Services will be held at Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park, 17111 South Camp Williams Road, Bluffdale, UT 84065. (by invitation only as space is limited.)
*You must wear masks, and be watchful of others! (AF will not be held responsible)
**In lieu of flowers please donate to the Wounded Warrior Project @ https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
James was born on the San Blas Islands of Panama on 14 November 1973 with the name of Anelio Grimaldo Rios. He was adopted at the age of 4 1/2 years old by Russell Grant Cottrell & Shirley Ann Merrill.
James is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission in Guayaquil North, Ecuador from 1993-94.
James loved wrestling from childhood through High School. He also played football. He also would put on the OHS tiger mascot outfit with pride. He later began boxing and that led to Ultimate Combat Fighting. James served on the Orem High School Class of 1992 student council his graduating year. He had the nickname of "Kuna". He could break dance better than anyone we knew.
James served in the Marine Corps as a Sniper for almost eight years. He did four overseas tours in the Middle East. In his first tour, before the invasion of Iraq had even begun, he was instrumental in stopping a terrorist attack on the Kuwaiti island of Faylaka. James earned the nickname of "Pocket, Hercules and No Neck". James served two combat tours in Iraq. He fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom and during his second tour in Iraq, he fought in the Second Battle of Fallujah, which proved to be the bloodiest battle of the Iraq War and the bloodiest battle involving American troops since the Vietnam War. He served with honor and distinction. James was an honest-to-goodness war hero. James suffered from PTSD after serving in the war.
James loved his family, especially his nieces and nephews. He enjoyed scaring them around every corner. James loved animals and always had a dog by his side. He loved the outdoors, and enjoyed hiking and running. James enjoyed mountain dew, mustard and snickers.
James was soft-spoken, and looked out for others. James will be missed by all who loved and met him.
James is survived by his mother, Shirley Cottrell of Orem, UT; sisters, Donna (Ken) Heslin of Billings, MT; Delsi Benson of Eagle Mountain, UT; Debra (Roger) Johnson of Pleasant Grove, UT; Darla (George) Anderson of Wellington, UT; Diane (Clint) Smith of S. Ogden, UT; Dora (Warren) Workman of Vineyard, UT; John *deceased (Natasha Fedrigotti) of Eagle Mountain, UT; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his father, Russell Cottrell; Brother, John Cottrell; Nephews, Peter Smith and Spencer Benson.
James is also survived by his biological family in Akua Yala, Bayao, Panama, Brothers, Adelfino (Anadelis) Rios; Abdiel Rios; Sisters, Laura (David) Bieberach; Rosalina (Jorg) Muñoz; and many nieces and nephews.
He is also preceded in death by his parents, Avelino Grimaldo & Benita Rios; and Brother Luciano Rios.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:30am on Friday, 25 August 2020 at the American Fork Amphitheater, at 851 E 700 N, American Fork, UT 84003. A viewing (closed casket) will be held at 10:00am before services. Feel free to bring a blanket and/or a hat, as it may be sunny!
Graveside Services will be held at Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park, 17111 South Camp Williams Road, Bluffdale, UT 84065. (by invitation only as space is limited.)
*You must wear masks, and be watchful of others! (AF will not be held responsible)
**In lieu of flowers please donate to the Wounded Warrior Project @ https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
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