Funeral service for Bear Cottingham will be Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 6:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Josh Britt officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home.
Thomas “BEAR” Cottingham IV, 8 years old of Decatur, Alabama, went to sleep in the arms of his Mommy and Daddy and woke up in the arms of Jesus. Bear spent all of his life fighting an inoperable brain tumor. The tumor caused many neurological issues throughout the years. Bear underwent 8 brain surgeries in less than a year, 7 years of chemotherapy, 2 strokes and many hormonal side effects due to the location of the tumor. Bear fought hard. After suffering a cardiac arrest in October 2022, the family decided to start hospice care and let Bear rest.
Bear was born in Kansas City, Kansas on March 27, 2015, to Thomas Earl Cottingham, III and Jennifer Schultz Cottingham.
Bear was a fighter and a determined little boy. Finding his tumor when he was just 6 months old but nothing ever stopped him. Bear learned to walk, talk and met all the normal baby and toddler milestones on time. He made everyone smile and kept everyone on their toes. If you met Bear you were his friend and you would never forget him. He loved everything police and wanted to be “Officer Bear” when he grew up. He loved his “cop radio” and arresting anyone he could. No one got away from Officer Bear. He was pure sunshine and brightened the world by being here. He made a lasting impact on everyone that knew his story. His family shared his full journey on Facebook, Blessings for Bear, this is where Bear changed the lives of so many strangers without even meeting them.
Bear’s survivors include: his Parents – Thomas and Jennifer Cottingham, his Brother – Bubba Oliver and Sisters- Jayleigh Oliver, Chloe and Delilah Cottingham, many Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.
He was preceded in death by his Great Grandmothers: Mary Lou Daniels, Judy Schultz and Margaret “Marty” Massey and Great Grandfathers: Thomas “Dusty” Cottingham and Wayne Woodall.
In lieu of flowers, Please make memorial donations to Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Make-A Wish or to Baby Jay’s Foundation.
Peck Funeral Home
