Irving "Emerson" Cowart, 86, of Hinesville died

Irving "Emerson" Cowart, 86, of Hinesville died Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at St. Joseph Hospital after a long illness.

His funeral was held 11 a.m. Friday, March 7, at Carter Funeral Home Oglethorpe Chapel with the Revs. Robert Long and Tommy Ray officiating. Burial was at 3 p.m. in The Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Glennville, with military honors.

Mr. Cowart was a native of Jenkins County. He had lived the past 44 years in Hinesville.

He served with the U.S. Army during World War II, and he was a recipient of the Purple Heart Award.

He retired from civil service at Fort Stewart. He also owned Cowart's Heating and Air and Cowart's Feed and Seed Store Hinesville.

He was a member of the American Legion, a charter member of the D.A.V. and a member of Westside Baptist Church Hinesville.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Tina Cowart of Hinesville; four daughters and sons-in-law, Cheryl and Ronald Wheeler of Cusseta, Ala., Kathy and Kirby Hodges of Hinesville, Linda and Jimmy Miller of Jesup and Debbie and Michael Thompson of Hinesville; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Ronald Adams, Jimmy Adams, Anthony Cowart, James Carlton Cowart, Donald Perryman, Tommy Stephens, Frank Junior Sanders and Ricky Perryman.