Alabama storm victims killed by falling trees remembered by grieving families
Friends and family are remembering three men who died Friday from falling trees caused by a line of rapidly moving storms through Alabama.
In Huntsville, police said 63-year-old William Gray was killed Friday afternoon when he was struck by a tree limb while out cleaning up limbs.
The death was ruled accidental.
In Lauderdale County, Dustin Randall Pettus, 43, of Florence, died following an incident near County Road 583.
According to WAAY, a witness said a tree struck Pettus in the head while he was standing outside a vehicle on private property. The witness was not injured.
According to his obituary, Pettus worked for local contractors, was a truck driver and heavy equipment operator. He was remembered as “a loving father of two as well as a beloved son and brother.”
On social media, a cousin, Phillip Cottles, said seeing Pettus was rare but memorable.
“Sudden events like this are tragic,” Cottles wrote. “He dropped by to see my mom & I awhile back and he really made Mom’s day and I think she made his.”
His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Greenhill Funeral Home in Florence.
In Talladega County, Allen Gregory Cooley, 70, died Friday morning. Coroner Shaddix Murphy said Cooley, who lived on Oak Circle, went out to his truck about 11:30 a.m. to do some work on it as the storms moved through.
Cooley was sitting in the truck’s cab when an oak tree snapped and fell onto the cab.
In his obituary, Cooley was remembered as liking to work on his truck. He also enjoyed photography, boats and airplanes. He had just celebrated his 30th wedding anniversary.
His memorial service will take place at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Talladega Funeral Home Chapel. Guests are welcome to wear jeans and T-shirts, according to the obituary.