Obituary

Darvin Ray Bott, II

November 5, 1972 - May 2, 2022

Darvin Ray Bott, II, age 49, formerly of Franklinton, Louisiana, who resided in Covington, Louisiana passed unexpectedly on May 2, 2022 due to a heart attack.

He attended Bowling Green School and graduated from Franklinton High School in 1990. He was certified in HVACR repair and radio and television repair. He competed in and received a bronze medal in the 1990 Louisiana Technical State Vocational competition aka VICA and participated in the apprenticeship program of television and radio repair. He began his career by working with his brother, Reggie Welsh at Welsh’s Refrigeration before taking over ownership of the family business, Bott’s TV Repair and Satellite Shop. He also graduated Sigma Cum Laude from Southeastern Louisiana University with a Bachelor of Science with dual certification in Special Education mild/moderate disabilities grades 1-12 and Elementary Education grades 1-6. He was a member of Gamma Beta Phi, SCEC (Student Council for Exceptional Children) and the recipient of The ‘National’ Dean’s List 2001–2002 and 2004–2005. An honorary award in which only ½ of 1% of the nation’s college students receive. He touched the lives of many children while working as a special education teacher at Abita Springs and Folsom Elementary School before becoming the Senior Pre-ETS transitional instructor and employment specialist at TEEM Academy, in which he mentored students with exceptionalities, assisted the director in decision making and curriculum design.

Ray was a devoted husband who met and fell in love with his childhood sweetheart at the age of 14 in 1987 and married her in 1992. He loved taking summer road trips across the country with his wife, Wendy and furbaby, Bijoux. Together they explored the deserts, oceans, glaciers, rainforest and giant redwood trees in 23 national parks, 41 states and 2 countries. He glided over a 2,200 foot canyon in a gondola, walked over the world’s highest suspension bridge at 1,053 feet, hiked a 14,000 foot rocky mountain, crossed the Rio Grande and Continental Divide 11 times, drove the United States most dangerous and treacherous road aka The Million Dollar Highway, drove the highest paved highway, boondocked on the streets of a real life Old West town, got his kicks on Route 66, stood on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, painted a Cadillac on Cadillac Ranch, saw the world’s largest meteor crater, witnessed Old Faithful erupt, got lost in Yosemite, and hiked The Narrows in Utah, The Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, Smoky Mountains, etc. He also walked through the gates of Graceland and biked under the full moon in the swamps of Louisiana. Ray enjoyed kayaking, camping, bushcrafting, reading, drawing, painting and experimenting in cooking delicious exotic meals. He also received a first degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Ray is survived by: His Wife of 29 years: Wendy Riley Bott; Sister and Brother in law: Janet Welsh Bistes and Jospeh Bistes; Brothers and Sisters in law: Mark Bott and Melissa Whaley Bott, Reginald “Reggie” Welsh and Amy Welsh; Brothers in law and Sisters in law: Ward Burton, William and Jennifer Riley, John Eric Riley, Joshua Riley and Jennifer Green, Ashley Riley and Jonathan Thompson, Todd and Michele Fields, Shane and Carey Jenkins; Nephews and Nieces: Greg Burton, William “Trey” and Taylor Riley, Devin Riley, Valerie and David LeBlanc, Debra and Josh Budde, Lizzie Riley and Felicity Howard, Mariah Jenkins, Spencer Jenkins, Nikki and Cory Carlos, Callie and Chase Anderson; Also numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, great-nephews, great-nieces and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Darvin Ray Bott and Yvonne Cox Bott, brothers Gregory Frank Welsh and Ronald Frank Welsh.

Visitation will be at Crain Funeral Home (1109 Bene Street, Franklinton, LA) on Thursday May 5th from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm. Visitation will continue on Friday at Bogalusa First Church (14532 Hwy. 21 S, Bogalusa, LA) from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. A funeral service will be held in the church at 2:00 pm Friday with Rev. Travis Houston, Rev. Aldon Morse, and Rev. Earnest Reilley officiating. Burial will follow in the Ellis Cemetery in Franklinton.

Pallbearers: Greg Burton, Trey Riley, Christopher Morgan, Wayne Jenkins, Shane Jenkins, Josh Budde