Herbert Cozort

Herbert Wandell Cozort of Nixa, MO, passed peacefully on May 11, 2018 at the age of 88 at Hopedale Cottage surrounded by his family. He was born February 15, 1930 in Wiseman, Arkansas, to Walter Curtis and Margaret Gwendolyn (Southard) Cozort. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Conrad Cozort and grandson Justin Eidson. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Wilma R. (Mullins) Cozort, their eight children, Rebecca (David) Berry of Columbia, MO, Susan (Michael) Jones of Nixa, MO, David (Julie) Cozort of Nixa, MO, Linda (Michael) Rogers of Sparta, MO, Jeffrey (Annette) Cozort of Republic, MO, Mary (Gordon) Eidson of Owasso, OK, Daniel (Gina) Cozort of Nixa, MO, and Steven Cozort of Fort Mills, SC; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; several step-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren; and five siblings, Curtis Cozort, Norris Cozort, Johnny Cozort, Kirby Cozort, and Rose Ann (Cozort) Bales. Herbert graduated from West Plains High School and Draughon's Business College in Springfield, MO. He actively served in the Korean War from 1950-1951 with the 82 nd Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 2 nd Division. He was described as a "reluctant war hero," and was selected to represent Korean War Veterans at the recently dedicated Korean War Memorial at College of the Ozarks. He retired from a career with Be-Mac Trucking Company in Springfield, MO, was an avid golfer, and gardener. He spent hours in his flower and vegetable garden and was well known in Nixa for sharing the harvest with family, neighbors, and friends. Herbert was an active, founding member of the Union Hill Church of Christ in Nixa, MO, and volunteered his time and efforts to help build their current church building. He was a supporter of the Fair Haven Children's Home in Strafford, MO, and had a heart for helping others. He was a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 16, 10:00 - 12:00 at Union Hill Church of Christ, Nixa. Funeral services will be at 12:00 noon. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield, MO. Arrangements are under the direction of Adams Funeral Home, Nixa. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Herbert and Wilma Cozort/Mullins Endowment Fund at College of the Ozarks by sending a check to College of the Ozarks, Attn: Development Office, PO Box 17, Point Lookout, MO, 65726 with the name of the endowment fund in the memo. Online donations can be made at www.cofo.edu. Click "give" and then click "give online" and add a comment to restrict the gift to this endowment fund. Donations may also be made to Fair Haven Children's Home in Strafford, MO.