James Otis Cosby

James Otis Cosby, age 84, passed from this life on Thursday, April 14, 2022, at home in Crossett, Arkansas, surrounded by family.  Born February 21, 1938, in Camden, Arkansas to John Otis and Ailene (Cooper) Cosby, he graduated Warren High School, Arkansas A&M (now UAM), and the University of Mississippi with a succession of science degrees, and studied as well at universities in Fairbanks, Alaska, Weatherford, Oklahoma, and South Alabama.  A lifelong, born and inspiring educator, he taught high school science for twenty-eight years with the Crossett Public Schools and another fifteen in Springhill, Louisiana.  His gift for teaching young people and infecting them with his love of science, shaped generations and serves as a lasting legacy.  A member of Crossett First United Methodist Church, in 1976, he founded Cosby’s Greenhouse and Garden center, a Crossett institution currently operated by his son, Kevin.

He was predeceased by his brother, Herbert Eugene Cosby of Camden and sister, Marilyn Kay York of Warren.  He is survived by his beloved wife and partner of fifty-six years, Rebecca Marie (McConnell) Cosby; son, John David and wife Alicia of Frederick, MD; daughter, Catherine Marie of Little Rock; and son, James Kevin and wife Tammy of Crossett; along with eight grandchildren, Erica Danielle Jones, Jonathan Blake Carraway, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Cosby, Laura Ailene Cosby, James Dillon Cosby, Evan Lee Cosby, Reese Etoy Cosby, and Kinsley Marie Cosby; three step grandchildren, Ethan, Micah, and Jonah; and five great-grandchildren, Nova, Ally, Jaden, Tate, and Blake.  His family was his joy.

A Celebration of James’s Life will be held at 4:30 p.m., Monday, April 18th, at the First United Methodist Church, 500 Main Street, Crossett, AR, with Reverends Matt Daniels and Toby Austin, and Pastor Keith Boseman, officiating.  Interment will be made at Pinewood Memorial Park in Crossett as soon as cemetery conditions improve.  The service will be recorded (not live-streamed) and uploaded onto the Medders Funeral Home website and facebook page following the service.  Pallbearers are Mike Chisolm, Michael Maxwell, Todd Thurman, Brooks Jones, David Harrison, Jonathan Carraway, Dillon Cosby and Evan Cosby. Honorary pallbearers are Bo Chisolm, Larry Land, Eddie Cheatham and Larry Russell.

Visitation will be from 2:00 -4:30 p.m., at the church prior to the service.

The family will be receiving friends at their home at 109 Dogwood Cir, in Crossett, the days leading up to the service, for those wishing to stop by to pay their respects.

In lieu of flowers, the family is establishing the James Cosby Memorial Scholarship fund for Crossett High School students seeking to study science in college.  They request contributions be made to the fund, care of Timberline Federal Credit Union.

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