Ann Roberts Cottrell

Ann Cottrell died peacefully at home in Huntersville NC on Wednesday, after a brave and spirited four-year battle with cancer. She was 74. She was born July 2nd, 1937, in Liverpool England to the late Leo Roberts and Elizabeth ONeill Clark. After WWII, Ann was raised by her Grandmother until age 14, when she immigrated to the United States to join her Mother, stepfather William Clark and two brothers and two sisters. She graduated from St. Anthonys High School in Long Beach CA in 1955. On August 2nd, 1958, she married Karal D. Cottrell in Lakewood, CA. Over the next 52 years they lived and raised three children in Southern California, Kansas City and Sacramento, CA, before relocating to Huntersville NC in December 2009. Ann was passionate about her family and about helping others in the community. She was a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader, involved with Loretto and Jesuit High School social and services clubs, and was active for 45 years in Beta Sigma Phi, an international woman's social, cultural and service organization. Anns primary charitable service was with the Mercy San Juan Hospital Guild where she served for over 25 years, three of which as Guild President. As a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Carmichael, Ann served for over a decade as a Eucharistic Minister and counselor for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) to introduce those interested to the Roman Catholic faith and way of life. Ann also enjoyed many social activities and loved to entertain friends and family at their home. Always the life of the party, she was active in Procter & Gamble bowling and bridge leagues, Bunco groups and book clubs. She loved reading historical novels and biographies and traveled extensively throughout the United States and abroad visiting the places about which she had read. Ann is survived by her husband Karal, and three children: daughters Cheryl Wentz and Vicki Cottrell, both of Charlotte, NC; son Kenneth Cottrell and fianc April King, of Seoul Korea. Two granddaughters, Alexandra & Rachel Wentz; sister, Jean Clark; sister & husband, Valerie and Jerry Diekmann; brother & wife, Robert and Marsha Clark; brother & wife, John and Joanne Clark. She is further survived by her dear cousin & husband, Joan and Alan Reed, of Liverpool England; her aunt May Manning and other cousins in England; 9 nieces and nephews; and longtime family friend Tony Henderson. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 1st, at St. Mark Catholic Church, Huntersville. Burial will be at North Lake Cemetery. Relatives and friends are welcome at the Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home, on Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and at the church, on Monday, from 10:30 a.m. until the hour of services at 11:00 a.m. Memorial contributions can be made to Mercy San Juan Hospital Guild, Carmichael, CA. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Service is assisting the family. www.raymerfh.com