Staff Sgt. Cody William Ottley, proud father and beloved son and brother, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, Dec. 12. He was 44 years old.
Cody was born in Evanston on April 6, 1975.
An adventurous and fearless boy from the start, Ottley was full of life and mischief.
Cody had an amazing personality and sense of humor and a quick wit. He loved a good joke, had an infectious smile and was quick to laugh. He loved easily and accepted everyone and anyone without judgment or exception. He made all who knew him feel like family.
Cody joined the Marine Corps in December 1997 and very quickly began proving what an intelligent, hard-working and gifted Marine he was as he moved up the ranks. While serving in a security force, he was chosen to go to designated marksmanship school, where he continued to excel. Afterward, he was selected to serve on Special Forces security platoon “Wolfpack” and then went on in Special forces 1st Force Reconnaissance, where he served the remainder of his time. He made many close and important bonds in the Corps and he loved his brothers, who shared his life-defining and proud years with him. He left the Marine Corps in 2008, and once said that he left a piece of himself with it. He was a proud and patriotic Marine till the end.
In the summer of 2004, Cody met and fell in love with Janeen Russell and her 5-year-old son, Isayah Saavedra. He immediately and willingly loved Isayah as his own and spoke of him with pride. On Dec. 13, 2006, Cody and Janeen welcomed his beloved daughter, Annastie Jo Ottley to the world. His love and pride twinkled in his eyes when she was born and whenever he spoke about her. An instant Daddy’s girl, Annie had him wrapped around his finger from the start. His pride for his service in the Marine Corps was only ever matched by his pride for his children.
Cody was preceded in death by his grandparents, Floyd and Loretta Staley and Robert and Sandra Ottley; grandfather, William (Joe) Trout; and his cousins, Casey and Tib Ottley.
He is survived by parents, Shauna Ottley and Parke Ottley (Kelley Ottley); son, Isayah; and daughter, Annastie; his siblings, Tuesdey Pelkey (Guy Pelkey), Sam Ottley (Aubrey Padgett), Bobbi Nebeker (Tyrel Nebeker) and Darbie Gennaro (Myles Gennaro); 17 nieces and nephews; and many, many aunts, uncles, cousins and brothers from the Marine Corps.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19, at the LDS Stake Center, 632 Twin Ridge Ave. in Evanston. A burial service with military honors and a luncheon will follow.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to help our veterans suffering with PTSD at woundedwarriorproject.org.
Condolences may be made at www.crandallfhevanston.com.
