Mary Elizabeth Cosby, 93 of West Burlington, Iowa, died at 12:45 a.m. Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at OakView Nursing and Rehabilitation in Burlington.
Born on June 29, 1930, in Pittsburg, Iowa, she was next to the youngest of fourteen children of Lewis T. and Carrie Helen Houser Channel. Due to the death of her mother, she was placed in a foster home at the age of three in Douds, Iowa.
On March 10, 1949, she married Carroll Dean Wyckoff of Fairfield, he preceded her in death. She later married Carroll Stanley “Stan” Cosby on Nov. 24, 1956, in Kansas City, Mo., he precedes her in death.
Mary began her working career with Sylvania of Burlington, and after seven years she joined the staff at Burlington Medical Center as a nurse aide while attending classes and training for Home Care Services with BMC. On May 8, 1989, she began working as a home care aide for nineteen years, retiring from there May 8, 2008. Mary enjoyed serving people so she began working as the hostess at Wendy’s Restaurant on Feb. 28, 2009 and ending her working career there.
Mary’s faith started at the age of eight. She was a member of Flint Hills Nazarene Church. For 25 years she served as a Sunday School teacher and director of Sunday School. Mary loved working with the little children. In Mary’s free time she enjoyed sewing, reading, being a homemaker and especially loved spending time with family and friends.
Survivors include her daughter Nadine E. (Tim) Cosby Odell; five grandchildren, five great grandchildren and her daughter in-law Donna Wyckoff. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, fourteen siblings, her foster parents and their four children, her husbands; sons Darrell and Larry Wyckoff and daughter in-law Judy Wyckoff.
The funeral service for Mary will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Lunning Chapel with Pastor Ron Jewett officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to her service.
A memorial has been established in her memory for Southeast Iowa Regional Home Health and Hospice.