Ranger and Eastland resident, Gerald Ray Cozart, age 75, passed away Wednesday night, January 13, 2021. He had been at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock for two weeks. There will be a graveside service honoring his life at a later date at Evergreen Cemetery, Ranger, TX.
Gerald was born July 17, 1945 in Ranger, TX to Travis Melvin and Teeney (Pete) Robertson Cozart. He joined the US army in 1969 to serve in Vietnam and continue his career to retirement in 1989. He went on to become a Gorman police officer as well as bailiff of the 91st District Court, years. He retired for good in 2010. He married Janice Cay Smith December 28, 1963 in Mineral Wells.
Over the course of his 57-year marriage to Janice, they lived in many places and traveled the world, enjoying the advantages of a military lifestyle. Gerald was a long-time member of the Leon River Cowboy Church and the Ranger Veteran’s Support Group.
Gerald is survived by his wife Janice, his son Daryl of Eastland and granddaughter, Anneka of Bangor, ME; his daughter Helen and husband John Stanton of Eastland and grandchildren, John Jr., Ajay, Patrick and Ian. Gerald is also survived by a brother Larry and wife Dorothy of Owasso, OK.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ranger Veteran’s Support Group for the maintenance and improvements of the Veteran’s Memorial Park (Lions Club/Ranger Vietnam Memorial, PO Box 251, Ranger, TX 76470).