Neil Koos

Neil Koos September 4, 1921 February 18, 2013 Neil Koos, 91, of Waco, Texas, passed away Monday, February 18, 2013. Services will be held at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Chapel on 11:00 a.m., February 20. His grandson, Rev. Daniel Koos Hawkins and his daughter, Rev. Kay Koos Hawkins will officiate. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Neil was born in Waco, Texas to Roy and Edith Marguerite Koos. He went to school at North Waco Elementary, West Junior High and graduated from Waco High in 1939. After attending Rice University and Texas A&M, he entered the armed forces as a private first class in June of 1943. As a member of the 97th Infantry Division, he served in the European theater until VE day and then as a part of the occupation troops in Japan until April of 1946. Upon completion of his tour of duty, he continued his college education at Baylor University, graduating in 1950. After a wartime courtship, he married Anne Harper on August 31, 1946. They settled in Waco where he was employed by JH Flood Engineering as a land surveyor until 1950 at which time he opened his own land surveying business. Elected multiple times as the County Surveyor of McLennan County, Texas, he served in that capacity until his retirement in 1976. For his entire life, he was a member of Herring Avenue United Methodist Church until its closure and then became a member of Central United Methodist Church. Neil was very interested in the local chapter and state organization of the Texas Surveyors Association, holding the office of president several times locally and also as president of the state organization. He was the creator and regular contributor of the column Koos' Komedy Korner in the state association monthly magazine. More recently, readers of the Waco Tribune Herald will recognize his name from his regular letters to the editor which imparted history, humor and interesting tidbits of information. His love of pretty plants and flowers resulted in his planting many crepe myrtles along Royal Oaks Drive and in various locations around town. For his efforts, he was awarded the Waco Beautification Award. Neil is survived by his wife of 66+ years, Anne Harper Koos; his daughter, Rev. Kay Koos Hawkins and husband, John T. Hawkins, his daughter, Kitty Koos Kenyon and husband, Terry Frazier Kenyon; his granddaughter, Kelly Marie Kenyon and husband, David Meyer; his grandsons, Benjamin Thomas Hawkins, Rev. Daniel Koos Hawkins and wife, April and Carl Frazier Kenyon; and great granddaughters, Charlotte Grace Meyer and Abigail Joy Hawkins. The family wishes to thank family friend Julie Creager for helping Neil and the family in his final months. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Glen Lake United Methodist Camp, P.O. Box 928, Glen Rose, TX 76043 www.glenlake.org or to a charity of one's choosing. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.