Horatio Adams Cogswell

Horatio "Ray" Adams Cogswell, a 16 year resident of the Santa Rosa Valley, formerly of Tustin, passed away on April 11, 2009, after a lengthy illness. Ray was born in El Monte, Calif., on July 21, 1934, to Prescott F. Cogswell and Isabel Adams Cogswell. His father was a well known pioneer in El Monte, having served as a state legislator from 1906 to 1916, and on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from 1916 to 1926. Ray attended El Monte High School and graduated from Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. He taught school in Tulare for several years before moving to Orange County where he worked as an appraiser for the County of Orange Assessor's Office for 30 years. He leaves his wife of 21 years, Elsie; two sons, Bryce of Kirkland, Wash., and Steven (Mimi) or Oregon City, Ore.; two grandsons, Dayton Horatio and Carver Bryce; brother, Prescott (Wilma) of San Clemente; and three stepchildren, Kenneth, Linda and Raymond. He will be greatly missed by family, friends and all who knew him. Ray was an ardent camper, and was frequently in the Sierras, Death Valley, and Anza Borrego. He served several years as a member of the Anza Borrego Desert State Park Foundation. He was a liver transplant recipient and an active member of the Ventura County/West Valley Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO), holding the position of treasurer for many years. Our thanks go to this wonderful organization for their support and dedication throughout the past 10 years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to TRIO, c/o Don George, 1986 Rowland Avenue, Camarillo, CA 93010, or the Anza Borrego Foundation, P.O. Box 2001, Borrego Springs, CA 92004. In celebration of Ray's life, a gathering of family and friends will take place at the Cogswell residence in Santa Rosa Valley, on April 25, at 2 p.m. For more information, call (805) 491-5846 or (949) 361-2345. Assisting the family with arrangements is Perez Family Funeral Home; Tel. (805) 484-6365