O'Neil LyFelton Cobb, 93, of Tulsa, passed away peacefully Saturday night, April 22, 2023, at Baptist Health Hospital, in Lexington, Kentucky. O'Neil Cobb was born December 15, 1929, in Ball Hill, Oklahoma, in Okmulgee County.

O'Neil was the first son born to the late Cornelius Cobb and Bernice (Jackson) Cobb. He spent his young years living in Boynton, Oklahoma with his grandparents, the late John and Lilly Jackson. The family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he was five. He attended Dunbar Elementary, Carver Junior High, and Booker T. Washington High School. At Booker T. Washington High School, he excelled in track, football, and the Arts. He loved woodworking. Upon graduating, he attended Lincoln University, in Jefferson City, Missouri. Due to a football injury, he had to leave school and returned to Tulsa. He joined the US Air Force on November 2, 1948, and served in Guam, Marianna Islands in the 811th Engineering Aviation Battalion. He served honorably during the Korean War and was discharged in 1952, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant.

He married his high school sweetheart, Marvedessa Clardy, January 23rd, 1951, and from this union, they had one son. They remained married until her death, February 3, 1982.

In fall of 1953, O'Neil enrolled at Oklahoma School of Accountancy, Law and Finance and earned his degree in May of 1958. He joined the Sheriff's Department of Tulsa County as Deputy Sheriff, serving from 1961 to 1964. In 1964, he was appointed U.S. Marshal and spent twenty-one years in the U.S. Marshal Service, attaining the grade of Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal his last seven years. His assignments took him to every state in the union, except Alaska and Maine. They also took him to U.S. territories, Guam, St. Thomas and St. Croix, Virgin Islands. He retired in 1984. He loved mentoring children. He thought education was especially important, and he helped many kids attend college. He became the in-house suspension counselor at McLain and Central High Schools.

He loved to farm and tend to his gardens over the years. He also loved to ride Tennessee walking horses. His farm, South 40, has been enjoyed by many over the years. Preceding him in death were his parents, Cornelius Cobb and Bernice Taylor; his first wife, Marvadessa Cobb; and sister, Novella Thompson.

He is survived by one son, Michael Cobb (Tyrone) of Lexington, KY; two brothers, Nathaniel Taylor (Sandy) of Lafayette, IN, and Seth Taylor (Jackie), of Dallas, TX; one sister, Allegro Thompson of Rialto, CA; two grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Memorial Service to be held on May 27, 2023, 11:00am, at Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel, 3612 E 91st Street, in Tulsa, OK 74137. Repass immediately following at Cobb's South 40 Farm. For more information, please contact Michael Cobb at 859-797-2636.


Fitzgerald Funeral Service, 918-585-1151