Reverend James Maurice Cottrell was born in Cadillac, MI on March 4, 1931 to Cecil and Emma Cottrell. He died at home on Sunday, March 19, 2017 at the age of 86 after a long battle with cancer. He enjoyed the company of his two brothers, Tom and Peter, and his sisters Virginia (predeceased) and Bernadette (predeceased). In Saginaw, MI, Fr. Jim attended Holy Family church and graduated from Holy Family High School in 1950. After his graduation from St. Mary’s College, Detroit, he spent several years with the Monastic Congregation of Camaldolese in the hermitages of Arezzo, Italy and Big Sur, CA. He completed his studies at the St. Vincent Regional Seminary in Boyton Beach, FL being one of nine in the first ordination class. He was ordained a priest on May 25, 1968.
Fr. Jim was a priest of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL and pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Inverness, FL for 10 years. He also served at Holy Cross, Holy Family in St. Petersburg, and St. Charles Borromeo Church in Port Charlotte, FL. When Fr. Jim retired, he moved to Gainesville, FL to care for his widowed mother, Emma. From 2002 to 2007, Fr. Jim served St. Madeleine Catholic Church, High Springs and San Juan Mission, Branford, while Fr. Edward Murphy was pastor.
Fr. Jim had a natural humor and always had a joke or rhyme to tell you. He loved his dogs Toby and Joy. He will be dearly missed by his friends, especially Tad and Anna Karmazyn and many parishioners at St. Madeleine Catholic Church and San Juan Mission. He appreciated all the prayers and visits over the past few months.
Mass of Christian Burial, Friday, March 24, at 10:30 a.m., St. Madeleine Catholic Church, 17155 NW US Hwy 441, High Springs, FL 32643. In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Madeleine Faith and Vision campaign.
