Mary Josephine (Cozby) Dill, age 75 of Waco, passed away January 24, 2024.
Visitation: 5pm to 7pm Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at Lake Shore Funeral Home, Waco, TX
Funeral Service: 10am Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at Lake Shore Funeral Home, Waco. TX. CLICK HERE to view the Live Stream of the service
Graveside Service: 3pm Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at Evergreen Cemetery, Ranger, TX
She was born September 9, 1948 in El Paso, TX to Warren Reynolds, Sr. and Ola Lilian (Ashcraft) Cozby. The family moved a lot as Major Cozby was a member of the U.S. Air Force. They settled in Waco where Mary graduated from Waco High School and later the University of Houston. Shortly after graduation she married Richard Donald Dill, Jr. of North Providence, RI. They then moved to Vallejo, CA to be near his mother and step-father.
Mary took a job as a four-year apprentice at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Marine Electricity on Nuclear Powered Submarines. After six years, Mary transferred, with her husband, as Electrician to Camp Stanley Storage Activity Army, San Antonio; NSGA Winter Harbor, ME; and Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio.
Then Mary transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Service as National Cemetery Director. She trained for one year at Houston National Cemetery, then transferred to Salisbury National Cemetery, NC; Rock Island National Cemetery, IL; National Memorial Cemetery of Phoenix, AZ; lastly, Memphis National Cemetery, TN where she retired.
Mary was active in many organizations. She was leader for one year for a troop of 32 Brownie Girl Scouts. Mary was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church, currently a member of Cogdell Memorial United Methodist Church. She served as President of Church Women United in Memphis, TN and was awarded Valiant Woman.
Mary was active in a number of other organizations including Order of the Eastern Star serving as Worthy Matron in Adah Chapter No. 49, San Antonio; Bartlett-O.K Houck No. 216; and Normal Whitehaven No. 43 in Memphis, TN. She served as Grand Martha in 2013. She was also active in Daughters of the Nile serving as Queen in 2012 in Zia Temple No.148, Memphis, TN, and dual member of Merak Temple No.104. Mary was also a member of Henry Downs Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution and Mary West Chapter No. 26 United Daughters of the Confederacy, both in Waco.
Mary enjoyed leisure activities such as crochet, tatting, needlepoint, jewelry making, and reading, winning a number of awards at the Mid-South County Fair in Memphis.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, in 2001; her parents; brother, Roland Gene Cozby of Austin; and two nieces and a nephew. She is survived by two sisters, Jean Treadwell of Edgewater, FL and Ceci Hanson of Round Rock, TX; three brothers, Robert Cozby of Sturgeon Bay, WI, Warren Cozby, Jr. of Denton, TX, and Oliver Cozby and wife, Dana, of Fort Worth, TX.
Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708
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Sending prayers of comfort and strength to the Dill family. I am truly sorry for your loss. Rest in peace, Ms. Mary.
Mary truly fought the good fight to try to regain her health. She served our chapter of DAR well and I have enjoyed getting to know her during my years in the chapter. My thoughts are with you and my prayers.
I remember that Mary taught me to read before going to first grade.
Oliver Cozby of Cleburne, TX
Mary was a sister in heart. I loved spending time with her. She helped teach me how to play dominoes, encouraged me to not give up when I struggled with a crochet pattern that was a bit challenging. One of my favorite memories was listening to her and one of her sisters who stayed over one night, giggling like teenagers.
My heart goes out to all who loved her.
Safe travels Mrs D. Don’t forget to save a spot for us May God Bless you.see you later.
Mary and I met when she was just 15 and she was a delight. We shared some good and some not so good times and did have some adventures. We fell out of touch only to reconnect too briefly years later. I wish I had made more of an effort but I do have fond memories of her and hope she had some of me. May she enjoy God’s grace. Peace and blessings to those who loved her.
So very sorry. I delivered Meals on Wheels to her and she was such a joy May God comfort and bring peace to her family knowing that she talked with me so openly about her faith in Jesus. Deepest sympathy and love. Julia Ledford