(Nov. 20, 1912 - Oct. 7, 2009)Dorothy Marie (Beall) Cozzens, 96, of Byron, died Wednesday, Oct. 7 at her home in Byron. Dorothy was born Nov. 20, 1912 in Green Castle, Mo. to Charles Elza Beall and Effie Pamela Minerva (Kent) Beall. Dorothy was the youngest of three children and the only daughter. Her older brothers were Clyde and Claude. When Dorothy was 3, the family moved to Wyoming, eventually settling in Lovell for the next 40-plus years. At the age of 12, Dorothy got a job at the Busy Corner, a drug store with a soda fountain in Lovell. She worked there until graduating from Lovell High School as president of her senior class at age 16. She enrolled in business college in Los Angeles, graduating the following year with a secretarial diploma.She returned to Lovell and worked in a law office and at the Busy Corner, where she met her future husband, Fay Alvern Cozzens of Byron, an oil field worker. They were married June 10, 1933, in Billings. Due to Fay's oil field work they were transferred to southeast Wyoming. During this time, their first child, Ronald Wayne, was born in Laramie. In 1935 the family moved to Fay's home-town of Byron. Fay continued to work in the oil fields, and, in June 1936,Byron's newest business, Dot's Place, opened. The business served breakfast and lunch, as well as malts, sodas and sundaes throughout the day. Soon, the couple's remaining three children, Charles Fay, Dorothy Jeanne “Dotty”, and Julie Pamelia “Pam”, were born.In 1950, Byron's only grocery store was destroyed by fire, and Dorothy and Fay opened Cozzens Cash Store. Cozzens Store closed in 2008 when Dorothy fully retired at 95. Dorothy played the piano and often sang to her children when they were younger. She was an excellent cook and baker and made the wedding cake for each of her children's weddings. During the '50s, Dorothy became interested in ceramics and set up her own ceramic studio in a separate part of their home. For the next few years, she enjoyed giving evening ceramic lessons to dozens of interested students from Byron and neighboring towns. Dorothy participated in many local school, community, and church events. She was one of the founding board members of the Byron Improvement Group (BIG) and years later was asked to assist with setting up the town's first museum. In 1985, local townspeople held a surprise 83rd birthday party for Dorothy and honored her with the title, “Heart of Byron.” After becoming members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 1950's, she and Fay had their marriage solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple. She continued to operate the store until 2005 when, at the age of 93, she partnered with three others to remodel the business and change it to a convenience store. This change “freed up some time” for Dorothy, so she opened another Dot's Place next door. Her new store sold “antiques, treasures and collectables.”Dorothy was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who loved being in the company of family, extended family and friends. She was known as an outgoing, accepting, optimistic and compassionate person who showed her love of God through her unselfish service to others.Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years in 1993; her son, Ronald; a great-grandson, Jaydee Blackburn; brothers Clyde and Claude; and her parents.She is survived by her children, Charles (Cheryl) of Highland, Utah, Dotty White of Pittsburgh, Penn., and Pam Hopkinson (Glen) of Tucson, Ariz.; 20 grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren; 35 great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Frankleen Jensen Cozzens of Cowley and Avon Cozzens Brown of Bakersfield, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Viewing/visitation will be from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at Haskell Funeral Home in Lovell. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Byron LDS Church. Burial will follow in the Byron Cemetery.

(Nov. 20, 1912 - Oct. 7, 2009)

Dorothy Marie (Beall) Cozzens, 96, of Byron, died Wednesday, Oct. 7 at her home in Byron. Dorothy was born Nov. 20, 1912 in Green Castle, Mo. to Charles Elza Beall and Effie Pamela Minerva (Kent) Beall. Dorothy was the youngest of three children and the only daughter. Her older brothers were Clyde and Claude.

When Dorothy was 3, the family moved to Wyoming, eventually settling in Lovell for the next 40-plus years.

At the age of 12, Dorothy got a job at the Busy Corner, a drug store with a soda fountain in Lovell. She worked there until graduating from Lovell High School as president of her senior class at age 16. She enrolled in business college in Los Angeles, graduating the following year with a secretarial diploma.

She returned to Lovell and worked in a law office and at the Busy Corner, where she met her future husband, Fay Alvern Cozzens of Byron, an oil field worker. They were married June 10, 1933, in Billings. Due to Fay's oil field work they were transferred to southeast Wyoming. During this time, their first child, Ronald Wayne, was born in Laramie.

In 1935 the family moved to Fay's home-town of Byron. Fay continued to work in the oil fields, and, in June 1936,Byron's newest business, Dot's Place, opened. The business served breakfast and lunch, as well as malts, sodas and sundaes throughout the day.

Soon, the couple's remaining three children, Charles Fay, Dorothy Jeanne “Dotty”, and Julie Pamelia “Pam”, were born.

In 1950, Byron's only grocery store was destroyed by fire, and Dorothy and Fay opened Cozzens Cash Store. Cozzens Store closed in 2008 when Dorothy fully retired at 95.

Dorothy played the piano and often sang to her children when they were younger. She was an excellent cook and baker and made the wedding cake for each of her children's weddings. During the '50s, Dorothy became interested in ceramics and set up her own ceramic studio in a separate part of their home. For the next few years, she enjoyed giving evening ceramic lessons to dozens of interested students from Byron and neighboring towns.

Dorothy participated in many local school, community, and church events. She was one of the founding board members of the Byron Improvement Group (BIG) and years later was asked to assist with setting up the town's first museum. In 1985, local townspeople held a surprise 83rd birthday party for Dorothy and honored her with the title, “Heart of Byron.”

After becoming members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 1950's, she and Fay had their marriage solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple.

She continued to operate the store until 2005 when, at the age of 93, she partnered with three others to remodel the business and change it to a convenience store. This change “freed up some time” for Dorothy, so she opened another Dot's Place next door. Her new store sold “antiques, treasures and collectables.”

Dorothy was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who loved being in the company of family, extended family and friends. She was known as an outgoing, accepting, optimistic and compassionate person who showed her love of God through her unselfish service to others.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years in 1993; her son, Ronald; a great-grandson, Jaydee Blackburn; brothers Clyde and Claude; and her parents.

She is survived by her children, Charles (Cheryl) of Highland, Utah, Dotty White of Pittsburgh, Penn., and Pam Hopkinson (Glen) of Tucson, Ariz.; 20 grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren; 35 great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Frankleen Jensen Cozzens of Cowley and Avon Cozzens Brown of Bakersfield, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Viewing/visitation will be from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at Haskell Funeral Home in Lovell. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Byron LDS Church. Burial will follow in the Byron Cemetery.