Recent Obituaries: Leslie ‘Ray’ Cottrell

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Leslie ‘Ray’ Cottrell, 85, of Mattoon, passed away at 6:43 a.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2026 in his home.

Graveside services will be 3:00 p.m. Saturday, January 24, 2026 in the St. Isidore Cemetery, rural Bethany conducted by Fr. Rafal Pyrchla. Military honors will be conducted by the Bethany American Legion Post #507. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Ray was born May 12, 1940 in Granite City, Illinois, the son of Glover Rex and Nancy Marie Stroud Cottrell. He retired from Northfork-Western Railroad as a railroad engineer. He was a U.S. Army veteran. Ray married Diane C. Wachter on October 20, 1962 in Granite City, Illinois.

Survivors include his wife Diane; son Greg (Cindy) Cottrell of Bethany and Laurie (Scott) Glenn-Upton of Farmer City, Illinois; grandchildren Shelby (Steven) Rogers of Lake City, Illinois, Cody Cottrell and significant other Jessica Iberg of Decatur, Ashley (Bill) Chapman of Macon, Illinois, Katie Glenn of Bloomington, Illinois Summer Glenn of Chicago, Miles Upton of Urbana, Illinois, Austin (Amanda) Upton of St. Joseph, Illinois and Justin (Julian) Upton of Philo; great grandchildren Carman Chapman, Mason Green, River Upton, Steven Rogers, Samuel Rogers and baby Rogers due in June and a brother Kenneth Cottrell of southern Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and four sisters.