Obituary -- Lewis Arvin Cossins 1942-2017

Lewis Arvin Cossins, 74, passed away from cancer on January 2, 2017, at Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri, surrounded and supported by his beloved wife and family. He was born in northern California on September 20, 1942, but lived the entirety of his adult life in Missouri and in Harrisonville since 1998. He married Eloyce Loree Finch in Sheridan, Missouri, on May 8, 1960.

It was his passion and career to serve others as a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol (1971-1998), badge number 151, and he retired at the rank of sergeant. He was selected to serve on the Patrol’s first CERT (SWAT) team and greatly enjoyed providing personal security to the governor when he visited the Kansas City area. Career highlights included the rescue of a kidnapped baby, the apprehension of two bank robbers, participation in several successful manhunts, and a successful arrest after one of the state’s longest car chases, starting in mid-Missouri and ending close to Topeka, Kansas. Sgt. Cossins was instrumental in saving several lives during his career, often finding himself in the right place at the right time. He saw himself as a Patrol ambassador and always tried to “treat people as well as they’d let him,” his golden rule of law enforcement. The effectiveness of his rule was demonstrated by the numerous letters of commendation received from his “customers” over the years, often from those whom he had cited for violations.

He had many beloved names in addition to Arvin: Dad, Papa, Great Papa, L.A., Cuz, and 151. Arvin was a strong man with a kind heart. He was a much-loved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and loyal friend. He will be greatly missed by them all.

Arvin is survived by his wife of 56 years, Eloyce; by his three children: Robert (Denise) of Spring Hill, Kansas, and their five children; Teresa (Glenn) Fulk of Platte City, Missouri, and their seven children; and Michael (Cindye) of Wildwood, Missouri, and their four children. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Drs. Reggie (Chris) Finch of Pearland, Texas; his half-sister Etta of St. Joseph, Missouri; nine great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Friday, January 6, 2017 at the Faith Baptist Church, 23705 E. State Route 2, Harrisonville, Missouri with burial in the Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville, Missouri.
Family received friends Friday, January 6, 2017 at the church.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Dickey Funeral Home of Harrisonville (MO).