Vernon Doyle Cowart

Doyle, a young man, tall and lanky, made his way from the hills of Arkansas to the plains of Texas. The rest is his legacy. Born on May 28, 1942, Vernon Doyle Cowart was raised in the family cabin in Mineral Springs, Arkansas. After high school, he moved to Garland, Texas and worked at a cab stand. There he met the love of his life and wife of 54 years, Billie Driggers. They were married on January 1, 1962.

Doyle spent 14 years working for the City of Richardson in the water department before moving to the Fire Marshal's office in 1974. There he spent his most memorable years weaving his legacy while serving his community, his state, and his country. He attended the National Fire Academy on two different occasions and attended other related institutions and received extensive training in firearms, advanced explosives, and investigation techniques to name a few. He became a law enforcement officer and fire instructor and helped to write the fire code for the State of Texas. But his sweet spot was arson investigation. A fire was not set that Doyle could not find the cause of. In charge of untold numbers of investigations, Doyle could find the "needle in the haystack" of what started the blaze, bringing closure and even comfort to those who had lost everything. In the City of Richardson, Texas, he rose to Master Fire and Arson Investigator as well as Master Fire Inspector and served as the Assistant Fire Marshal. He also served as an officer of North Texas Fire Investigators Association. Even after his retirement in 1998, Doyle had not had enough. He continued his legacy by serving as the Fire Marshal of Murphy, Texas for five years.

Doyle laid is life on the line every day bringing the darkness to light by finding the fire's cause and bringing justice for those who had endured great loss.

The lights of Doyle's life were his family, whom he loved and provided for, his fire buddies and friends with whom he shared a special bond, and most importantly, his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Doyle knew that Jesus is the Light of the world Who brings to light every deed done in darkness. Doyle honored Him by doing the same.

Today, we honor you, Doyle. We will miss you deeply. Know how much you are appreciated and how greatly you are loved.

Doyle wrote a prayer fairly recently in passing his legacy on to us. He said, "Lord, be gracious to us; We long for You. Be our Strength every morning, our salvation in times of distress." In Jesus Name, Amen.

A visitation will be held Thursday, January 26, 2022 at 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.at Charles W. Smith & Sons 2925 5th St., Sachse, Tx 75048. A funeral service will be held Friday, January 27, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Wildwood Chapel 13005 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75243