James Elliott

James O. (Ottis) Elliott COTTONDALE James O. (Ottis) Elliott, age 86, of Cottondale, passed away Saturday, April 21, 2012, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham. Visitation will be Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Magnolia Chapel Funeral Home South. Services will be 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with Dr. Fisher Humphries and Rev. Milford Walters officiating. Graveside service will follow at Memory Hill Gardens with Magnolia Chapel Funeral Home South directing. Mr. Elliott was born on September 24, 1925, to Hayward and Mary Elliott in Akron, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Eloise and Aline; two brothers, Olen and David; and a son, Wayne. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Polly; two daughters, Kathy Anders (Mike) and Debbi West (Charlie); grandchildren, James Hartley, John Hartley, Emily West-Kalb, and Brad West; great-grandchildren, Mayci Hartley, Clayton Hartley, Jayci Kalb and Drake Kalb; brother, Edward Elliott; special daughter, Linda Roberts (Tom); special grandchildren, Ann, Elliott and Brian; and special great-grandchildren, Alec and Sam. Mr. Elliott worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps at age 14 in the state of Washington. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17, serving in the Pacific on the USS Eisherwood during World War II. After his wartime service, he drove a taxi in Tuscaloosa and then went to work at the B.F. Goodrich plant, where he joined the United Rubber Workers Union. He served as a field representative of the union and served its members in the southeast until his retirement in 1987, but Mr. Elliott never stopped working. He was an active member of Cottondale Christian Church. He actively worked with Cottondale Dixie Youth Baseball and Softball, serving as board member and treasurer of the organization, which thanked him for his service by naming a field in his honor. He was a member of the Cypress Slough Hunting Club and was an avid hunter and fisherman. A Christian gentleman, Mr. Elliott was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle. He enjoyed "debating" politics, cooking catfish, working at the polls, and rooting for all Crimson Tide sports, especially Alabama softball. He was a true friend to multitudes of people in Cottondale and Tuscaloosa County. Pallbearers will be Eddie Atkins, Amond Herndon, Guy Rhodes, Chris McGee, Mike Merriam, Larry Cook, Glenn Snyder and James Lindsey. Honorary pallbearers include Sen. Gerald Allen, all members of Cottondale Christian Church, players, coaches and parents at Cottondale Dixie Youth Baseball and Softball, members of the Cypress Slough Hunting Club, players and coaches on the Alabama softball team, engineering department of city of Tuscaloosa, the Tuscaloosa Police Department, employees of Charles West CPA and Andy and Ginny Banks. Published in Tuscaloosa News on April 23, 2012