Gretta Cozart's Obituary
Gretta Cozart passed away August 17, 2015, in New York City with family by her side. She had recently relocated from Longview where she was a member of the community for 24 years. Born in Knox City, Texas and raised in San Angelo, Gretta traveled widely and also lived in Austin, Evanston, Berlin, Pasadena, Houston, and Nacogdoches.
Gretta was heroic in her lifelong desire and efforts to ease the suffering of others. As early as childhood, she had a soft heart and was always a champion of the underdog. She was a fervent social activist with the Christian Faith and Life Community as a student at the University of Texas, Austin, and later an active member of the Ecumenical Institute in Chicago. Her impressive career with the March of Dimes spanned over 25 years; first as a volunteer in Nacogdoches and later as Executive Director of the Greater East Texas chapter, operating out of Nacogdoches and eventually Longview. Through her knowledge, leadership and motivation, she inspired volunteers to work hard to help save premature babies. She served as a mentor and role model to the volunteers and they responded to her call.
WalkAmerica is the biggest fundraiser for the March of Dimes and over the course of the walk, the walkers grew from a couple of hundred to over 1500 people and collected from $30,000 to $192,000 in Longview before Gretta retired in 2003. Jail and Bail was also a fundraiser where business leaders were responsible for raising a set amount to "bond" out of a "make shift" jail.After her retirement she became particularly devoted to the mentoring program Forever Friends.
Fluent in German, as a young woman she had adventures all over Europe and later lived for a year in Berlin. A perfectionist in grammar and lightening-fast on the typewriter, she was the editor of an academic medical journal during her years in Chicago. She was an incredible mother and a passionately doting grandmother. She was brave, whip-smart, selfless, and fiercely loving, with a delightfully wicked sense of humor. She was a focused and sensitive listener and the best friend a person could hope for. Her great pleasures were children, dogs, literature, and sweets.
Gretta is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Douglas Harmsen and granddaughter Gwendolyn, of New York City; her son and daughter-in-law, Dr. John and Terrie Cozart of Texarkana; her sister-in-law, Neva Rutherford of Powderly; and her best friend, Frankie Rushing (and family) of Longview. In death Gretta is reunited with her parents, Guy and Frances Rutherford, and her beloved brother, John (as well as her favorite dog, Dolly.) She is terribly missed.
A Celebration of Life Service will be 4 PM Thursday, September 10, 2015 at the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home in Longview with another memorial service being held at All Souls Church in Manhattan on September 19th at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the March of Dimes (donation cards will be available at the service), East Texas Literacy Council or Partners in Prevention..
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