Johnnie Wayne Cosby

Johnnie Wayne Cosby, 89, of Oswego, passed away the morning of Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at Freeman Health in Joplin.

Wayne was born on July 21, 1936, to Wesley and Etta (Padgett) Cosby in Mound Valley, Kansas. He grew up and attended school in Mound Valley, graduating from Labette County Community High School in 1954.

After high school, Wayne moved to Wichita and worked at Boeing Aircraft. Two years later, he returned to the Parsons area to help his dad farm. Later he bought a large farm on South 10th street, where farmed until he retired.

An avid sports fan and a devoted father, Wayne loved coaching his children as they grew up and played baseball, basketball and softball. He was a good bowler, winning many trophies. His favorite kind of TV shows were Westerns, especially Gunsmoke.

On March 7, 1959, Wayne and Patricia Ann Divine were united in marriage in Miami, Oklahoma. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include:

Two sons – John Cosby of El Dorado, Kansas

Joe Cosby and his wife, Rene, of Parsons, Kansas

Five daughters – Pam Harrington and her husband, Rick, of Rock Port, Missouri

Belinda Houston and her husband, Jim, of Bartlett, Kansas

Cindy Wallace of Parsons, Kansas

Julie Barnes of Weatherford, Oklahoma

Crystal Golston of Frontenac, Kansas

Numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren

One brother – Junior Cosby of Parsons, Kansas

Four sisters – Ruby Lyon of Wichita, Kansas

Marge Richardson of Rose Hill, Kansas

Vickie Selvidge of Wichita, Kansas

Dora Cunningham and her husband, Charlie, of Parsons, Kansas

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Richard Cosby.

The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons. Burial will follow at Springhill Cemetery in Parsons. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday, at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to The Crushers Softball Team. Please make checks payable to Shelbie Cosby. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.