Michael Cosby (Tulia)

Tulia, Texas – Michael Roscoe Cosby, 68, died Wednesday, January 20, 2021. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sat. January 23, 2021 in the First United Methodist Church with his son-in-law Matthew Thompson officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Tulia.

Michael was born on June 18, 1952 in Tulia to Roscoe Addington and Julia Nell Carroll Cosby. He grew up in Tulia and graduated from Tulia High School in 1970. He graduated from Clarendon Junior College and attended Texas Tech. He married Sandy DuBois on November 30, 1974. He farmed on the family farm and he also worked for Enterpipe Co. for a few years and then CHS, a fertilizer distribution company in Plainview. He is preceded in death by his parents.

He was an advocate for women, having three very strong women in his immediate family – his wife and two daughters. He wanted his daughters and grandchildren to know how proud he was of them, and to make sure all the women in his family remember they should be independent, strong, and knowledgeable of their worth, saying, “honey, you don’t need a man to make it through life.” Prior to his death, Michael had told his family he was determined to “outlast Trump.” So it was fitting that when he left this world, the Inauguration was playing on the hospital television. Trump was out, Biden was in, and Garth Brooks was singing “Amazing Grace” – Mike had made it.

He is survived by his wife; Sandy Cosby of Tulia, two daughters: Amanda Watson and husband JD of Tulia, and Kaci Thompson and husband Matthew of Lubbock, one sister: Jonell Cosby of Plainview, and five grandchildren whom he loved to kid with and razz in his good-natured way. He often bragged on his granddaughters: Presleigh Watson and Haddie Thompson, saying they were already becoming smart, capable, and beautiful young women. When it came to his grandsons: Peyton Watson, Paxton Watson, and Cooper Thompson, Michael never passed up a chance to give the boys a hard time -- but was always sure to say how proud he was of the young men they were growing up to be. Often Michael said of all five grandkids that he was confident whatever came, they would be able to handle things, and that he believed in them. He was always in their corner, urging them to be their best and achieve success – but he never forgot to share with them the fun of life, often leaving them rolling in laughter with his stories and reminding them not to take themselves so seriously that they missed out on the most important things in life.

Michael was a very good and a very honest man. One of his most memorable qualities was a talent for being upfront, candid and to-the-point – then doing it with a smile. In that spirit, he wanted everyone to know he did not die of COVID. He supported the wearing of masks and hopes that people do all they can to minimize the spread of the virus -- but he asks: “Please, just leave me out of the COVID discussions.”

As a testimony to Mike’s dedication to women’s rights and the legacy of strong women he has left behind -- in his daughters and other female family members who have learned about strength, standing for what is right, and gumption from him -- the procession from the church will be made of up female pallbearers. This will honor his dying wish and seal his lasting message on the hearts of those present. “Give ‘em hell kid, you can do this with or without me.” The women in his life would say to that, “We’d rather have him with us, but then again, he always is.” Words that are a living testimony to the life of a strong and remarkable man who always gave his all for his family and those he held most dear.

Online condolences may be made at www.kornerstonefunerals.com.