Mattie Imogene Bossart

Mattie Imogene Bossart, 85, of Houston, died Saturday evening. She was born Jan. 13, 1923 in Jacksonville to Benjamin Omer and Ethel Holcomb Hood. Gene was a fresh-faced 16-year-old girl when she left the farm in 1939 to build her life. Along the way she was a wife, mother and friend, who fought a war, had a family, earned a Ph.D. and became a well known professional and academic. Survivors include her children, Steve Bossart and wife Mary Beth of Dallas, Susan Cavazos and husband Emilio of Richmond, Pat Bossart and wife Charlotte of Cypress, Cheryl Starnes and husband Terry of Conway, Ark., Tony Bossart and wife Becky of Scottsdale, Ariz. and Georgia Etheridge and husband Travis of Jacksonville; brothers Bertrum Hood and wife Margie, and Jerry Hood, all of Jacksonville; 16 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the Chapel of Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive. The family will receive friends at the Chapel beginning at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in the Houston National Cemetery. For those that desire, the family has requested memorials to The American Stroke Assoc., National Center, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, Texas 75231 or www.americanheart.org. Published in the Jacksonville Daily Progress on 8/11/2008