Rebecca's Family

The Cottrell Family

Dad, looking back through your life, it is difficult to choose one thing that would be your shining moment, but I'd have to say, it all culminates in the beautiful legacy that you have created through your family! You have blessed and impacted every life and we are proud to call you dad, and grandpa!! When I think back to my childhood, I am so grateful for the opportunities that you allowed me to have. Not many kids are so lucky to have such a wonderful childhood. You took us on so many trips to see this beautiful country. We found our favorite spots and revisited them again and again. You helped each of us develop our own individual interests and talents and supported them 100%. You guided our decisions and then allowed us to make our own, complete with successes and mistakes to learn from. And when we all grew up, you continued to love us as well as our husbands who soon joined the family, and each grandchild as they came along.
I am so proud to call you my dad!
--Rebecca & Kevin

Jadeyn doesn't have too many words yet to express his love to his grandpa, but you can see his love when his eyes light up at the sight of his Grandpa chasing after him or scooping him up in his arms. Each time that Jadeyn has seen you, it is apparent that he got his beautiful blue eyes and curly locks from you. Compare your baby pictures to his and you could be twins. As he gets older, he will understand just how wonderful his Grandpa is and will love him all the more!
--Jadeyn Alexander

What I inherited from dad:

I inherited my curly hair and lots of it!

I inherited my whistle! I am famous for my whistling and I owe it all to my dad! He is never without a song and I am proud to have inherited that wonderful quality from him.

I inherited my "unusual" love for music. Unusual only because it is way out of my generation. The Platters, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, etc. All of these were my very favorites growing up and they still are today.

I inherited my love of Football from watching the games with dad and from going to the Capital High and BYU games with him. Of everyone in the family, I'm the biggest sportsfan besides dad when it comes to football. I can always count on a fun phone conversation with dad on a weekend of a big game!

I inherited an appreciation and love for the wilderness. Dad loves the forests, lakes and mountains of Idaho and I am so grateful to have been raised to appreciate the wonders of this great state. I love driving around the lakes in McCall at dusk searching for the elusive wildlife and listening to the mountain birds on a warm summer day.

We may not have camped a lot while growing up, but we spent plenty of time with dad out in nature. I am so happy to continue on the tradition of a love for nature in my family. I remember dad taking us to the river during the salmon runs and letting us participate in the hefting of the giant fish out of the water. I remember that those fish were only about a foot shorter than me at the time!! I also loved visiting dad at his office at Ore-Ida. I always felt special being able to sit at his desk, but was always impressed by the eagles that made the river outside his office their home.

Whitewater Adventures and the Silver Pig! Sparkling cold water swirling around the rocks, the warm sun on our shoulders and the adventure of the rapids. Dad would treat us to an afternoon of fun. It was especially a treat for his son in laws.








Some of my favorite memories of Dad:
Some of my favorite memories of dad are his amazing story telling ability. On the fly his creativity would amaze us as he would tell us about the adventures of Mortimer and Ferdinand, two little furry friends who would get into the most unusual and creative predicaments and would have to muddle their way through them. Dad would usually tell us these stories on late nights when we slept out on the trampoline under the stars. I believe a lot of my love for creative writing began on these dark nights listening to dad's voice.

A slumber party out on the trampoline wouldn't be complete without gazing peacefully out at the stars only to jump out of our skins when we hear a mighty bear growl right beneath us!! Dad could always be the best grizzly bear! Here is dad's curly head nestled among the sleeping bags!

Cats Cats Cats! Poor dad had to put up with his daughter's obsession and collection of cats. Even though they would occasionally jump up and sleep in the TR6, he still let us have as many as we wanted! What a dad! Dad took care of my sweet Sophie when I went off to college and lovingly watched after her to the end and I am ever grateful for this. And dad was one of my biggest supported when it came to adopting Dozer, our stray tiger! I think it was the blue eyes that won him over!

Every year we could count on Dad & Mom at the Valley View Carnival to adorn themselves with their baggy clothes and floppy hats and fill their multitude of pockets with all sorts of miniature treasures. They were the pick pocket clowns and were the hit of the carnival. I was always so proud to have them there and happy that I had such goofy parents!!

Anyone else remember the creak in the floorboards in front of dad's closet? We'd be laying in bed in the downstairs bedroom and would always know when dad was getting ready for bed or for work: creak creak creak! I also remember hearing mom and dad talking in bed. Dad's voice would rumble unintelligibly through the night.

Dad was always supportive of any of his daughter's many endeavors. And we had our share of them. The biggest of course was on the tennis court where all his daughters shone brightly, but even when our interests took us in other directions he was right there by our sides being our biggest supporter. Dad allowed me to branch out on my own and find my love for music, writing, and literature.











Dad and mom were always there for us: in the small things as well as the major things. I remember one particularly tough time I was having in Oregon while Kevin was away on an internship.



Also another really tough time during my freshman year in college. One phone call to my parents and they knew what to do and were by my side the very next day. No matter how many miles may be between us, they are ready an eager to offer their support. That kind of love and sacrifice will always be cherished. Their support has continued to include there many son in laws and grandchildren.




















Being the youngest in the family, it was probably a little tough for dad to see his "little girl" get married.
On this very special day he entrusted me to Kevin and off we went o seek our own adventures .






Crystal Mountain above Burgdorff -- somewhere near McCall.






And then Jadeyn joined our family. Expecting to have a brown eyed brunette child, little did we know that our little Jadeyn wold come out as a clone to his Grandpa Johnson!!! Curly blond hair, bright blue eyes, sweet round face. Dad's baby pictures look just like my little boy! I'm so proud to have a little look alike and hope that many of Dad's other qualities are passed on as well.


With Jadeyn in our lives, I am able to re-live some of the little things that Dad did with us when we were young; it all brings back memories: Dad bouncing a young thing roaming around the living room in circle going "harumph! harumph!" The finger poker/tickler machine coming down slowly at our bellies. Being called "Charlie!"



Dad, thank you for all the wonderful ways that you have influenced my life and now the lives of my family. I am proud of my heritage and am proud to be your daughter.