Harvey Wingate Cottle, 87

Harvey Wingate Cottle, 87, of Yakima, Wash., passed away Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012.

Harvey was born Sept. 29, 1924, in Seattle, the only child of Harold W. and Anne (Jacobsen) Cottle. He was raised in Seattle in the University District, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1943. Like many, Harvey served in the U.S. Air Corps during World War II initially assigned to the 2018th Field Artillery Ordinance Unit. When his unit was sent to ship out he contracted mumps and after quarantine he was assigned to a B-24 Flight Squad as a tail gunner. He never saw combat as his unit was killed in a training mission on a weekend where he was fortunate to have a weekend pass and dismissal from participating in the flight. After the war, he attended and graduated from Washington State College with a bachelor’s degree in 1949. While at WSC he won a Welter Weight Intramural Boxing Title and was a member of Delta Chi Fraternity.

Upon graduation, he was a teacher and coach in Grandview, Wash., for several years before going into the insurance business and opening Emerson Investment in 1956. In December 1950, Harvey married Virginia Nell Blessing and though their marriage ended they maintained a lifelong relationship through their children and granddaughters. He coached Grid Kid Football, got his kids started skiing and also got the pleasure of skiing with his granddaughters, though, only one of them managed to keep up with him.

On March 17, 1977, Harvey married Nancy Lee Boyd in Sun Valley with the ceremony performed by the mayor of Sun Valley. In 1983, Harvey sold his interest in the business to his son Alan when the business became affiliated with Argus Insurance where Harvey continued to work until retiring at the end of 1991.

In 1992, he and Nancy moved to Silverton where they created many new friendships, mostly on the slopes of Silver Mountain and Lookout and at the Shoshone Golf & Tennis Club. He loved the outdoors and especially enjoyed skiing. His last day on the slopes was March 7, 2012. Harvey also enjoyed RVing with Nancy and seeing the country.

Retirement also allowed him to reconnect with the friends he had made in World War II through the 2018th reunions. They also enjoyed travel to Europe and the Far East. Throughout his working life he was affiliated with many organizations and served as the Exalted Ruler and Trustee of the Yakima Elks and President of the Yakima Gyro Club. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Nancy Cottle of Yakima; his children and their spouses, Gail Cottle and Reynold Brown of Indian Wells, Calif., Alan and Monica Cottle of Yakima, and Mark and Laurie Cottle of Bellevue, Wash.; also four granddaughters, Alison Cottle, Morgan Cottle, Mackenzie Cottle and Alexandra Cottle. He was preceded in death by his parents.

There will be a Celebration of Harvey’s life for family and friends at a later date.

Memorials may be made to the Yakima Humane Society or the favorite charity of the donor, c/o Brookside Funeral Home, P.O. Box 9907, Yakima, WA 98909.

Arrangements by Brookside Funeral Home & Crematory.