Cozette V. Lape

Born on January 25, 1929, in Gray Ridge, MO, to Wilbur and Bertie Stevens Knight, Mrs. Lape was a member of the Hunter Memorial Presbyterian Church in Sikeston and a volunteer “Pink Lady” for the Missouri Delta Medical Center Auxiliary for over 40 years.

She married DeKalb “D.K.” Lape on March 10, 1945, in Bloomfield, MO. Mr. Lape preceded her in death on September 5, 2011, at the age of 83.

She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Danny (Sally Mitchell) Lape and Terry (Sandy Greene) Lape of Sikeston; eight grandchildren, Deke (Jill) Lape, Carrie (Justin Landers) Lape, Clay Lape, Katie (Ryan) Merideth, of Sikeston; Ashleigh Lape of Phoenix, AZ; Riley Lape of Sikeston; Kenleigh (Arlen) Carapetian, of Phoenix, AZ; Katherine (Dylan) Manning, of Brooksville, MS; and 10 great-grandchildren, Wyatt Merideth, Collin Lape, Jay Lape, Will Lape, Dani Kate Landers, Ben Merideth, Luke Merideth, Brodie Pigg, of Sikeston; Blake Carapetian, and Allen Carapetian of Phoenix, AZ.

Besides her husband, Mrs. Lape was preceded in death by two sons, David Lape and Ken Lape; one grandson, Cooper Lape; and two sisters and three brothers.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 2, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until time of the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. The Reverend Jennifer Bell Moxley of Sikeston First United Methodist Church will officiate.

Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Sikeston.

Pallbearers will be Deke Lape, Clay Lape, Riley Lape, Justin Landers, Ryan Merideth, Tim Davis, and Phil DeWitt.

The family appreciates the Sikeston Convalescent Center’s staff for taking good care of their mother and “Grandma.” The family also appreciates Missouri Delta Medical Center’s Dr. Omar Kahn and the “second floor nursing staff” who showed compassion and comfort for their mother and grandmother.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Missouri Delta Foundation, 1008 North Main Street, Sikeston, MO 63801.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.nunneleefuneralchapel.com for the Lape family.