Lawrence Russell Bottom, age 63, of Ottawa, passed away on Monday night, March 9, 2015, at Rivershores Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Marseilles.
Memorial visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2015, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Burial will take place at Oakwood Memorial Park at a later date.
He was born March 19, 1951, in Ottawa, to Russell Howard and Helen (Carroll) Bottom. He attended St. Columba School and Ottawa Township High School. Larry enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, undergoing basic training at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, California. He attained the rank of Lance Corporal and served in Okinawa and the Philippines.
Following his service to his country, Larry worked at Caterpillar in Aurora, was employed for many years as a laborer through Marseilles Labor Hall #393, and worked in the warehouse at Pet Smart in Ottawa.
He married Sandra Jo Congleton in 1987. She was the love of his life. Sandy passed away on March 14, 2002, in Peoria.
Larry is survived by his daughter, Jamie Samantha (David Avalos) Bottom of Ottawa; a granddaughter, Alexis Avalos; two half-sisters, Candace (Ross) Ferguson of Ashland, Wis., and Callie M. Ross of Ottawa; a sister-in-law, Pam (McDonald) Bottom of Ottawa; four nephews, Michael Bottom of Yorkville, Todd Bottom of Chicago, Adam Bottom of Peru, and Casey McDonald, formerly of Ottawa; an aunt, Mollie (Carroll) Perrot of Ottawa; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sandra Jo (Congleton) Bottom; his parents; two brothers, Jack and Thomas Bottom; his uncle, Jack Carroll; his aunts, Ruth Schuster and Betty Hart; and his maternal grandparents, Wayne and Hallie (Hockenberry) Carroll.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Larry is laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.