Meta Cozby

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Meta Karen Cozby, 88, of Jonesboro passed from her Earthly life Monday, July 27, 2009, at Union County Hospital in Anna, Ill., in the presence of loving family.

She was born Aug. 26, 1920, in York, N.B., to the Rev. Clark S. Powell and May Meyer. On July 18, 1942, she married Harold David "Bing" Cozby. He preceded her in death Oct. 8, 1996.

Cozby graduated from Anna-Jonesboro High School in 1937 and attended Carthage College. After the death of her father in 1940, she returned home to Jonesboro and taught school in Mounds, Ill.

Following her husband's discharge from the Army at the end of World War II, they moved to Batesville, Ind., where their two sons were born. She taught school briefly in Napoleon, Ind., before moving back to Jonesboro in 1956, where they lived the rest of their lives.

At the age of 42 she received a bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University. She taught music at Tamms, Ill., High School from 1956 to 1958 and in the Shawnee School District in Union County from 1959 until retirement in 1982.

God gave her the gift and love of musical talent and she freely gave of that talent as organist, choir director and Sunday school teacher/leader for nearly 40 years at Salem Lutheran Church in Jonesboro. For many years she gave private piano and vocal lessons to both youths and adults, some of who continued on as professional musicians and volunteer church musicians. The only things greater than her love of music were her love of family and faith in God.

After enjoying many years of family camping trips while the boys were young, she continued her love for travel after her and her husband's retirements, visiting friends around the United States as well as travel abroad. In her later years, she became an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and was in attendance for Mark McGwire's 62nd home run in 1998.

She is survived by sons David (Gretchen) Cozby of Jonesboro and George (Judy) Cozby of Jackson; a sister, Kathern (Bud) Newton of Jonesboro; a brother, Charles (Edith) Powell of Fish, Wis.; four grandchildren, Mary Cozby of Tucson, Ariz., Nick (Mandy) Cozby of Pacific, Mo., Gretchen (Mitch) Bennett of Ewing, Ill., Katie Cozby of Cape Girardeau; two stepgrandchildren, Kevin (Beth) Werner and Darin (Tammy) Werner of Jackson; two great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Bennett and Lily Cozby; four great-stepgrandchildren, Lori, Macie, Ashley and Brent Werner.

Meta was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; parents; and great-stepgrandchild, Dylan Werner.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Salem Lutheran Church in Jonesboro, with Pastor David Eidson officiating. Burial will be in Jonesboro City Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Salem Lutheran Church Organ Fund. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.