Cletus Jewell Cosby, age 78, passed away on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 11:44 am at Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Health Long Term Care Facility after battling metastatic lung cancer over two years. Cletus was born in Powderly, Kentucky on July 31, 1947 to Herbert and Anna Jean Cosby. He graduated from Muhlenberg Central High School in 1965, where he was a three-sport athlete in basketball, baseball and track.
After high school, Cletus worked road construction for several years, helping to build sections of the Pennyrile Parkway, Audubon Parkway, Natcher Parkway, Interstate 75, Interstate 71, and Purchase Parkway. He also was a construction worker on the Downing University Center at Western Kentucky University. In 1972, he married the love of his life, Anna Marie Owens and began working at J. Zinsmeister’s /Wetterau in Greenville. In 1978-1986, he worked with Peabody Coal Company as a prospect driller. When Peabody started closing mines, Cletus took a job at the Muhlenberg Community Hospital Coal Miners’ Respiratory Clinic as an outreach counselor. In 1990, he took a job with Texas Gas where he worked at various locations in storage, transmission, and transportation across western Kentucky and southern Indiana. He retired from Texas Gas/ Williams in 1998.
Cletus was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an avid sports fan, and an amazing athlete. He had an outgoing personality and made friends everywhere he went. He had an exceptional work ethic, always paying attention to detail and completing each task to the best of his ability. He was a member of the Greenville Cumberland Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder for many years. He was a wonderful role model for his daughters Stephanie and Sarah, praying over them every night and making personal sacrifices to give them every opportunity to succeed. He loved his grandchildren so much and enjoyed babysitting them, taking them to practices, picking them up at school, and helping them with sports. He was always their biggest fan from near or far. Cletus had a special interest in teaching fundamental skills of basketball, softball, and baseball. Throughout his lifetime, he helped many young people improve their skills and become more successful in their chosen sport. He leaves a legacy of love, integrity, and unwavering faith for his family and friends.
Cletus was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Anna Jean Cosby. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Anna Marie Cosby; two daughters, Stephanie (Eric) Whitley of Buford, GA and Sarah (Adam) Coats of Greenville, KY; seven grandchildren, Isaac Coats, Anna Katherine Whitley, Eli Coats, Callan Whitley, Lawson Whitley, Hannah Coats, and Cora Whitley; two sisters-in-law, Jenny (Steve) Joyce of Greenville, KY and Jane (Billy) Orton of Huntsville, AL.; three nieces Amy (Tony) Nelson of Greenville, KY, Carrie (Adam) Reed of Bowling Green, KY, and Mary (Michael) Nelson of Huntsville, AL; one nephew, John Orton of Huntsville, AL; several great nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be held on Friday, August 22, 2025 at Tucker Funeral Home in Central City, KY with Reverend Billy Orton and Reverend Eric Whitley officiating, assisted by Reverend George Thompson. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Greenville, KY. Family visitation is 8 – 9 am followed by public visitation, 9 – noon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Muhlenberg County Public Schools, Family Resource & Youth Service Center (FRYSC), Attention Carla Embry, 510 West Main Street, Powderly, KY 42367.
