Obituary

Merle Nadine “Honey” Cozad, 102, passed away on August 21, 2019. There will be a visitation Friday, August 23, 2019 from 6-8pm at Langsford Funeral Home in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Another visitation will take place Sunday, August 25, 2019 at Enfield Funeral Home in Norton, Kansas from 5-7pm. Graveside services will be at the Lyle Cemetery on Monday, August 26, 2019 at 10:30am. Contributions may be made in Merle’s memory to Great Lakes Caring Hospice.

Merle Nadine “Honey” Cozad was born on January 13, 1917 in Wilsonville, NE where she graduated from high school.  Merle married A. Rex Cozad on October 10, 1935 and they had four children – Beverly Jean, John Elwyn, David Charles, and Mary Lynn.

Merle was active in the Lyle Community where they raised their family. She participated in community activities and was an active member of the Lyle Methodist Church and the local 4H club. They left Norcatur, KS to Hutchinson, KS where they spent many years traveling, Friday night dancing, and the social life that came with Rex’s political career.

Merle was a very loving and exceptionally strong woman who had a passion for life and her family. There was never a family event that Merle and Rex missed, whether it be marriages, graduations, soccer, baseball, or football games.  Merle was a true matriarch in every sense of the meaning. She showed her family how to love and to be strong. She was our leader, our strength, and our family glue.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Helen Knutson; brother, Meredith Knutson; husband of 68 years, Rex Cozad; three of her children; Beverly Morton, John Cozad, and David Cozad; and 1 great grandson, Shawn Petty.
Survivors include her daughter, Mary Vanderburg and husband Bill; and daughter-in-law, Karen Cozad; 15 grandchildren; Tony, Jana, Lynn, Kenny, Sherri, Laura, Tracy, Jon, Jeremy, Kim, Kari, Erin, Nikki, Dusty, and Morgan; 28 great grandchildren; and 15 great-great grandchildren.