J.C. Cox, 100, and Josie Cox, 96, both passed away Thursday, March 28, 2008.
Funeral: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Greenwood Chapel. Graveside service: 3 p.m. Tuesday in Hurst Ranch Cemetery in Star. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Funeral Home.
Memorials: Dallas Metro Ministries, P.O. Box 226624, Dallas 75222.
J.C. was born in Star to Ben Franklin Cox and Vera Bell Knowles. Josie was born in Big Spring to Joseph Franklin Petrey and Ella May Cheek. J.C. helped build and maintain Ridglea Masonic Lodge 1341 where he was a lifetime member.
He was a 32nd-degree Mason in the Fort Worth chapter of Scottish Rite. Josie was a lifetime member of Ridglea Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 999 and past Worthy Matron. J.C. enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodcrafting. Josie enjoyed sewing, crocheting, cooking and taking care of her family.
Mr. and Mrs. Cox were preceded in death by daughter, May Bell Wallace and her husband, J.B.; and son, Alvis Cox Sr.
Survivors: Grandchildren, Clay Wallace and wife, Barbara, Marla Williamson and husband, Curtis, Dion Wallace and wife, Susan, Lesha Grimm and husband, Chris, Alvis Cox Jr., Kimberly Ellis and husband, Jerry and Donna Cox; son, Alvis Cox Sr.'s fiancee, Bettie Black; eight great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; Josie's sister, Violet Saylor.
Published in the Star-Telegram on 3/30/2008.
A touching story:
Mr. and Mrs. J.C. and Josie Cox FORT WORTH -- The routine was familiar to the family and friends of J.C. and Josie Cox.
When the couple visited, they'd sit a spell and talk, perhaps for an hour, maybe two. Then, without saying a word, Mr. Cox would stand up, grab his hat and coat, and silently walk to the front door. It was his way of saying he was ready to go, and Mrs. Cox, his wife of 75 years, always followed.
Last week, at an Arlington nursing home, Mr. Cox, 100, clutching his wife's hand, died of complications from pneumonia. Five hours later, Mrs. Cox, 96, followed her husband. She had suffered from a heart condition.
"When he passed away he didn't say a lot, but he went and she went with him," said granddaughter Lesha Grimm, 47. "To me, he was saying to her, 'C'mon, let's go.'"
John Clay Cox was born June 30, 1907, in the little town of Star, about two hours southwest of Fort Worth. Josie May Cox was born June 3, 1911, in Big Spring.
They met at a baseball game and fell in love. They married on Christmas Day 1932. It was the Great Depression, but Mr. Cox always found work. The day after their wedding, they drove his truck from Star to Fort Worth to deliver a load of chickens, said granddaughter Marla Williamson, 53. The Coxes are survived by six grandchildren.
They moved to Fort Worth in 1954, when Mr. Cox found work as a crane operator and mechanic, Williamson said. The couple bought a two-bedroom wood-frame house in west Fort Worth for $4,800. They lived there 50 years.
They saw some hard times. Their daughter, May Bell Wallace, and her husband died of accidental carbon-monoxide poisoning while on vacation in 1981. And in February, their son Alvis Cox died of complications from lung cancer.
"I kind of think that was just more than they could take," Grimm said.
Last month, the couple moved into an Arlington nursing home. Mrs. Cox, who insisted on taking care of her husband, was going blind, the family said.
Last Thursday morning, the family was told that Mrs. Cox's heart problems were worsening and that she could die any day. That afternoon, Mr. Cox's health unexpectedly declined. That afternoon, with the couple's beds pushed together, Mr. Cox died.
Over the next five hours, Mrs. Cox lay on the nursing-home bed, unable to move.
Leaning close to her grandmother's ear, Williams whispered, "You know, Grannie, we're going to be OK. Paw and your children are waiting for you. It's OK. You can leave."
Within minutes, she closed her eyes and was gone.
Funeral: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Greenwood Chapel. Graveside service: 3 p.m. Tuesday in Hurst Ranch Cemetery in Star. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Funeral Home.
Memorials: Dallas Metro Ministries, P.O. Box 226624, Dallas 75222.
J.C. was born in Star to Ben Franklin Cox and Vera Bell Knowles. Josie was born in Big Spring to Joseph Franklin Petrey and Ella May Cheek. J.C. helped build and maintain Ridglea Masonic Lodge 1341 where he was a lifetime member.
He was a 32nd-degree Mason in the Fort Worth chapter of Scottish Rite. Josie was a lifetime member of Ridglea Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 999 and past Worthy Matron. J.C. enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodcrafting. Josie enjoyed sewing, crocheting, cooking and taking care of her family.
Mr. and Mrs. Cox were preceded in death by daughter, May Bell Wallace and her husband, J.B.; and son, Alvis Cox Sr.
Survivors: Grandchildren, Clay Wallace and wife, Barbara, Marla Williamson and husband, Curtis, Dion Wallace and wife, Susan, Lesha Grimm and husband, Chris, Alvis Cox Jr., Kimberly Ellis and husband, Jerry and Donna Cox; son, Alvis Cox Sr.'s fiancee, Bettie Black; eight great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; Josie's sister, Violet Saylor.
Published in the Star-Telegram on 3/30/2008.
A touching story:
Mr. and Mrs. J.C. and Josie Cox FORT WORTH -- The routine was familiar to the family and friends of J.C. and Josie Cox.
When the couple visited, they'd sit a spell and talk, perhaps for an hour, maybe two. Then, without saying a word, Mr. Cox would stand up, grab his hat and coat, and silently walk to the front door. It was his way of saying he was ready to go, and Mrs. Cox, his wife of 75 years, always followed.
Last week, at an Arlington nursing home, Mr. Cox, 100, clutching his wife's hand, died of complications from pneumonia. Five hours later, Mrs. Cox, 96, followed her husband. She had suffered from a heart condition.
"When he passed away he didn't say a lot, but he went and she went with him," said granddaughter Lesha Grimm, 47. "To me, he was saying to her, 'C'mon, let's go.'"
John Clay Cox was born June 30, 1907, in the little town of Star, about two hours southwest of Fort Worth. Josie May Cox was born June 3, 1911, in Big Spring.
They met at a baseball game and fell in love. They married on Christmas Day 1932. It was the Great Depression, but Mr. Cox always found work. The day after their wedding, they drove his truck from Star to Fort Worth to deliver a load of chickens, said granddaughter Marla Williamson, 53. The Coxes are survived by six grandchildren.
They moved to Fort Worth in 1954, when Mr. Cox found work as a crane operator and mechanic, Williamson said. The couple bought a two-bedroom wood-frame house in west Fort Worth for $4,800. They lived there 50 years.
They saw some hard times. Their daughter, May Bell Wallace, and her husband died of accidental carbon-monoxide poisoning while on vacation in 1981. And in February, their son Alvis Cox died of complications from lung cancer.
"I kind of think that was just more than they could take," Grimm said.
Last month, the couple moved into an Arlington nursing home. Mrs. Cox, who insisted on taking care of her husband, was going blind, the family said.
Last Thursday morning, the family was told that Mrs. Cox's heart problems were worsening and that she could die any day. That afternoon, Mr. Cox's health unexpectedly declined. That afternoon, with the couple's beds pushed together, Mr. Cox died.
Over the next five hours, Mrs. Cox lay on the nursing-home bed, unable to move.
Leaning close to her grandmother's ear, Williams whispered, "You know, Grannie, we're going to be OK. Paw and your children are waiting for you. It's OK. You can leave."
Within minutes, she closed her eyes and was gone.
J.C. Cox, 100, and Josie Cox, 96, both passed away Thursday, March 28, 2008.
Funeral: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Greenwood Chapel. Graveside service: 3 p.m. Tuesday in Hurst Ranch Cemetery in Star. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Funeral Home.
Memorials: Dallas Metro Ministries, P.O. Box 226624, Dallas 75222.
J.C. was born in Star to Ben Franklin Cox and Vera Bell Knowles. Josie was born in Big Spring to Joseph Franklin Petrey and Ella May Cheek. J.C. helped build and maintain Ridglea Masonic Lodge 1341 where he was a lifetime member.
He was a 32nd-degree Mason in the Fort Worth chapter of Scottish Rite. Josie was a lifetime member of Ridglea Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 999 and past Worthy Matron. J.C. enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodcrafting. Josie enjoyed sewing, crocheting, cooking and taking care of her family.
Mr. and Mrs. Cox were preceded in death by daughter, May Bell Wallace and her husband, J.B.; and son, Alvis Cox Sr.
Survivors: Grandchildren, Clay Wallace and wife, Barbara, Marla Williamson and husband, Curtis, Dion Wallace and wife, Susan, Lesha Grimm and husband, Chris, Alvis Cox Jr., Kimberly Ellis and husband, Jerry and Donna Cox; son, Alvis Cox Sr.'s fiancee, Bettie Black; eight great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; Josie's sister, Violet Saylor.
Published in the Star-Telegram on 3/30/2008.
A touching story:
Mr. and Mrs. J.C. and Josie Cox FORT WORTH -- The routine was familiar to the family and friends of J.C. and Josie Cox.
When the couple visited, they'd sit a spell and talk, perhaps for an hour, maybe two. Then, without saying a word, Mr. Cox would stand up, grab his hat and coat, and silently walk to the front door. It was his way of saying he was ready to go, and Mrs. Cox, his wife of 75 years, always followed.
Last week, at an Arlington nursing home, Mr. Cox, 100, clutching his wife's hand, died of complications from pneumonia. Five hours later, Mrs. Cox, 96, followed her husband. She had suffered from a heart condition.
"When he passed away he didn't say a lot, but he went and she went with him," said granddaughter Lesha Grimm, 47. "To me, he was saying to her, 'C'mon, let's go.'"
John Clay Cox was born June 30, 1907, in the little town of Star, about two hours southwest of Fort Worth. Josie May Cox was born June 3, 1911, in Big Spring.
They met at a baseball game and fell in love. They married on Christmas Day 1932. It was the Great Depression, but Mr. Cox always found work. The day after their wedding, they drove his truck from Star to Fort Worth to deliver a load of chickens, said granddaughter Marla Williamson, 53. The Coxes are survived by six grandchildren.
They moved to Fort Worth in 1954, when Mr. Cox found work as a crane operator and mechanic, Williamson said. The couple bought a two-bedroom wood-frame house in west Fort Worth for $4,800. They lived there 50 years.
They saw some hard times. Their daughter, May Bell Wallace, and her husband died of accidental carbon-monoxide poisoning while on vacation in 1981. And in February, their son Alvis Cox died of complications from lung cancer.
"I kind of think that was just more than they could take," Grimm said.
Last month, the couple moved into an Arlington nursing home. Mrs. Cox, who insisted on taking care of her husband, was going blind, the family said.
Last Thursday morning, the family was told that Mrs. Cox's heart problems were worsening and that she could die any day. That afternoon, Mr. Cox's health unexpectedly declined. That afternoon, with the couple's beds pushed together, Mr. Cox died.
Over the next five hours, Mrs. Cox lay on the nursing-home bed, unable to move.
Leaning close to her grandmother's ear, Williams whispered, "You know, Grannie, we're going to be OK. Paw and your children are waiting for you. It's OK. You can leave."
Within minutes, she closed her eyes and was gone.
Funeral: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Greenwood Chapel. Graveside service: 3 p.m. Tuesday in Hurst Ranch Cemetery in Star. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Funeral Home.
Memorials: Dallas Metro Ministries, P.O. Box 226624, Dallas 75222.
J.C. was born in Star to Ben Franklin Cox and Vera Bell Knowles. Josie was born in Big Spring to Joseph Franklin Petrey and Ella May Cheek. J.C. helped build and maintain Ridglea Masonic Lodge 1341 where he was a lifetime member.
He was a 32nd-degree Mason in the Fort Worth chapter of Scottish Rite. Josie was a lifetime member of Ridglea Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 999 and past Worthy Matron. J.C. enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodcrafting. Josie enjoyed sewing, crocheting, cooking and taking care of her family.
Mr. and Mrs. Cox were preceded in death by daughter, May Bell Wallace and her husband, J.B.; and son, Alvis Cox Sr.
Survivors: Grandchildren, Clay Wallace and wife, Barbara, Marla Williamson and husband, Curtis, Dion Wallace and wife, Susan, Lesha Grimm and husband, Chris, Alvis Cox Jr., Kimberly Ellis and husband, Jerry and Donna Cox; son, Alvis Cox Sr.'s fiancee, Bettie Black; eight great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; Josie's sister, Violet Saylor.
Published in the Star-Telegram on 3/30/2008.
A touching story:
Mr. and Mrs. J.C. and Josie Cox FORT WORTH -- The routine was familiar to the family and friends of J.C. and Josie Cox.
When the couple visited, they'd sit a spell and talk, perhaps for an hour, maybe two. Then, without saying a word, Mr. Cox would stand up, grab his hat and coat, and silently walk to the front door. It was his way of saying he was ready to go, and Mrs. Cox, his wife of 75 years, always followed.
Last week, at an Arlington nursing home, Mr. Cox, 100, clutching his wife's hand, died of complications from pneumonia. Five hours later, Mrs. Cox, 96, followed her husband. She had suffered from a heart condition.
"When he passed away he didn't say a lot, but he went and she went with him," said granddaughter Lesha Grimm, 47. "To me, he was saying to her, 'C'mon, let's go.'"
John Clay Cox was born June 30, 1907, in the little town of Star, about two hours southwest of Fort Worth. Josie May Cox was born June 3, 1911, in Big Spring.
They met at a baseball game and fell in love. They married on Christmas Day 1932. It was the Great Depression, but Mr. Cox always found work. The day after their wedding, they drove his truck from Star to Fort Worth to deliver a load of chickens, said granddaughter Marla Williamson, 53. The Coxes are survived by six grandchildren.
They moved to Fort Worth in 1954, when Mr. Cox found work as a crane operator and mechanic, Williamson said. The couple bought a two-bedroom wood-frame house in west Fort Worth for $4,800. They lived there 50 years.
They saw some hard times. Their daughter, May Bell Wallace, and her husband died of accidental carbon-monoxide poisoning while on vacation in 1981. And in February, their son Alvis Cox died of complications from lung cancer.
"I kind of think that was just more than they could take," Grimm said.
Last month, the couple moved into an Arlington nursing home. Mrs. Cox, who insisted on taking care of her husband, was going blind, the family said.
Last Thursday morning, the family was told that Mrs. Cox's heart problems were worsening and that she could die any day. That afternoon, Mr. Cox's health unexpectedly declined. That afternoon, with the couple's beds pushed together, Mr. Cox died.
Over the next five hours, Mrs. Cox lay on the nursing-home bed, unable to move.
Leaning close to her grandmother's ear, Williams whispered, "You know, Grannie, we're going to be OK. Paw and your children are waiting for you. It's OK. You can leave."
Within minutes, she closed her eyes and was gone.
