Joseph Perry Bozarth, (Joe) beloved pastor of many, passed away on October 5, 2024 in Burleson, Texas due to cancer at the age of 89. He held a significant role in the lives of family, church family, friends and colleges. He will be missed.
Joe was born in Lamar, Mo on July 28, 1935 to parents Lawrence and Leona Bozarth. He married his high school sweetheart in 1954, Nancy Jo Phillips (deceased). Together they had three children, Janice (Rus) Bailey, Joe (Kathy) Bozarth and Catherine (Doug) Gulley. Joe served in the Air National Guard during this time and worked as a broom maker in his father’s broom shop. Later in life, Joe adopted a tiny baby named Melissa (Danny) Powers. Due to life circumstances, Joe raised his children by himself. Once Melissa had graduated from high school, Joe was led to move to Houston, Texas. At church one day, he met a lovely redhead, Carolyn Lee (deceased) and was smitten. Soon afterwards, they were married on December 6, 1986. Carolyn had three children, Douglas (deceased), Trelis (Ken) Urban and Clark Lee.
Joe surrendered to preach in 1963 and served as pastor in eight churches during his lifetime. He worked as a binder operator and Print Shop Manager while attending Oklahoma Missionary Baptist Seminary when his children were small. He achieved a Bachelor’s degree during those years. Joe was also a published author.
Once Joe moved to the Houston area, he pastored a church in Dickinson, Texas. While there, he attended Heritage Baptist Institute achieving a doctorate degree. Later in life, Joe started a mission in the Conroe area, Fellowship Baptist Church on Wilson Road.
Joe is a member of Northside Baptist Church in Conroe. He has served as a chaplain for Dickinson Fire and Police Departments. He taught seminary at Heritage Baptist Institute and held office at American Baptist Association Credit Union. Joe loved raising and training horses, a passion pursued most of his life. Joe also helped plant a mission in Mexico and build the work in that area.
Joe leaves behind his children and their spouses: Janice and Rus Bailey, Joe and Kathy Bozarth, Catherine and Doug Gulley and Melissa and Danny Powers. He also leaves behind Clark Lee and Amy Grainger; Trelis and Ken Urban. He has numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren who will miss him very much. Joe is also survived by his brother Bob Bozarth and wife Debbie and sisters Mary Lorenz and Mildred Cosper.
The family would like to thank Northside Baptist Church for their faithfulness with prayer, love and support for the family. We would also like to thank Gateway Hospice in Burleson, Texas for their love and care of Joe during his time of illness.
Joe’s family will welcome visitors to Cashner Colonial Hall on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral services are planned for Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. and will be held at Northside Baptist Church in Conroe. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 10th at Klein Memorial Park in Pinehurst.
