Noal Lanford Cotney, Sr.
Noal Landford Cotney, Sr., age 90, passed away peacefully at his home on Lay Lake in Wilsonville, Alabama on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, surrounded by his loving and devoted family.
Noal was the youngest child born to William Homer and Lora Odelia (Bence) Cotney of New Site, Alabama. As a young man he worked on his parent’s farm, and later a local mill operation prior to enlisting in the military, serving in both the Army and the Air National Guard. He served his country during the Berlin Crisis stationed in France.
He married his wife Kathryn Johnson Cotney in 1959 and had three sons. He built his family home himself in Irondale where he and his family lived for many years while he worked for Alabama Power. He later built a home on Lay Lake and after 27 years with Alabama Power he retired there with his wife and became an active member of the community.
Noal was a highly analytical and intelligent man who loved life and pursued a great many interests. He was a devoted Christian his entire life and was most recently an active member of the Wilsonville Baptist Church. For many years and until his health prevented, he volunteered in the Carpenters for Christ ministry, helping to build churches to spread God’s word. He generously contributed to many charities and gave considerable time and funds to the causes he believed in.
Noal loved his family, cars, anything mechanical, photography, playing cards, dancing, political discussions, and dreaming of all the possible projects he envisioned doing for his country property and home. He refurbished many Volkswagen Bugs during his lifetime, worked on Jeeps and many other cars for himself and others. He loved the outdoors, cats, gardens, wisteria vines, coffee, blueberry bushes, his children, and grandchildren, visiting his many friends and family during his trips to work on his property in Tallapoosa County. He was a loving and devoted husband and father who supported his family in every way he possibly could. He was loved and respected beyond measure and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his parents (above), brothers Comer Dean (POW-Korea), William Lozel, and sisters Dorothy Lee Williams Nolen, Lurie Mae Nolen, and Naomi Price. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, 3 sons, 4 grandchildren, and one great-grandson.
Noal will be laid to rest at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo on Thursday, August 3, 2023.
Alabama National Cemetery
3133 Hwy 119, Montevallo, AL 35115
https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/alabama.asp
The service at the cemetery will start promptly at 1:15 p.m., if attending, please arrive and line up vehicles prior to 1:15 p.m.
His online memorial can be found at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/255451456/noal-landford-cotney?createdMemorial=Yes
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Essential Tremor Foundation: https://essentialtremor.org/