Wasilla resident Eve Merle Oates Cottle, 78, died Feb. 19, 2008, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer from complications of pneumonia.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. March 2 at AMVETS Post 9 in Wasilla with Bill Lyle and Tony Bucat officiating. Her ashes will be scattered over the North Fork of Eagle River.

Cottle was born Oct. 1, 1929, in Waco, Texas. She was a high school graduate and a homemaker. She came to Alaska in 1947 and had lived in Anchorage, Eagle River and Wasilla. Community service included being a literacy instructor and working with Meals on Wheels and Wildlife Habitat. She was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of AMVETS Post 9, Eastern Star and the American Legion. Her hobbies and special interests were family and friends, reading, puzzles, Jeopardy, bird watching and traveling.

Cottle was one of the nicest, most-loved wife, mother and friend, her family said. “We all have just lost the love of our lives.”

She was preceded in death by a son, Ronnie Joe Miller. Survivors are her husband, Richard John Cottle of Wasilla; son and daughter-in-law, Paris Michael and Carolyn Jenkins of Ashdown, Ark.; daughters and son-in-law, Lou Ann and Carl Bell of Arlington, Texas, and Tammy Lee Adkins of Wasilla; step-daughters and sons-in-law, Diane and Jon Wilson of Wasilla, Barbara and Travis Dunn of Meridian, Idaho, and Sharon and Chris Johnson of Faith, S.D.; step-son, Keith Nunley Cottle of Auburn Hills, Mich.; grandchildren, Paris, Christy and Chrissanda Jenkins, Carson and Marshall Bell, Jessica Wilson, Trevor, Jessica and Kimberly Dunn, Dean, Elizabeth and Ellen Johnson; and great-grandchildren, Brittany, Catherine, Nathan, Kayla, Tiffany and Moira.

Memorial contributions may be made to support the troops, c/o AMVETS Post 9, Wasilla, AK 99654.

Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory.