Jerry Arthur Cox

1945 - 2008

Jerry Arthur Cox, of Lowell, OR, died March 3, 2008 at age 62. He died from the common form Zahl Kam Rauf.

Jerry was born April 13, 1945 in Prineville, OR to Joe Allen Cox and Clarice (Cork) Cox. He married Susanne Arbow in Bend, OR on September 5, 1966.

Jerry was an ambitious young man, had a large paper route, and was known as the boy next door that mowed lawns. At age 13, he became one of the nation's youngest ham radio operators and built his radio from scratch. The Crook County School system could not fill his intellectual abilities and he left high school in the fall of his senior year and enlisted in the U.S. Army. The Army required a GED and he agreed to take classes on subjects that he could not pass by exam. The GED examination was given and he scored in the top 1% of the nation. The U.S. Army honored him for the achievement in a special ceremony by Commanding Officer of the 26th Artillery Group. Jerry was chosen as a cryptographer and communications specialist and stationed for 2 years in Stuttgart, Germany. He re-enlisted for a second three year tour in Aug 1965. The Gulf of Tonkin incident happened that month and Jerry's commanding officer tore up his re-enlistment papers and told him he would be better off using his intelligence in another way. He returned to attend Central Oregon Community College, where he met his wife in an economics class. He completed two years on the GI bill and returned again to Prineville to run his own insurance agency and assist his father with growing real estate investments. He quickly became a well known "bail bondsman". He spent his Sunday mornings bailing out Saturday Night's Partying. After an economic downturn, Jerry sold his insurance agency and Jerry and Sue moved to Eugene where he became an underwriter for the United Pacific Insurance Company. He stayed with United Pacific until they closed their office in Eugene and moved it to Portland. He followed them to Portland for a year only to return. After the insurance industry, Jerry had a word processing and data management business and ultimately went to work for the University of Oregon. There he managed a large database for a sports research publishing facility. He retired in 2001 but worked seasonally as a tax preparer.

  Jerry and Sue were avid waterskiers and found their peaceful place in the sun on Dexter Lake. They moved to Lowell in 1980 where they have lived since. They were often seen just drifting with music on the stereo. Or with their 460 Ford engined boat, chased cars along Hwy 58. Their 23 ft daycruiser was named "Our Island Blue", after two Leon Russell songs, "Lady Blue" and "Back to the Island". Jerry and Sue were avid music lovers anything from folk to rock to blues. They attended many Autzen Stadium concerts; Grateful Dead, Carlos Santana and Little Feat, and many many others. Music was a major part of their lives.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Susanne (Sue) Cox, his mother, Clarice of Salem, a sister, Linda and her husband, Dan Groah, a nephew, Jason. Close childhood cousins, Delores Houchin and her husband Jim, Raymond and Sharon Struck, and Gail and Myra Cox. He is also survived by 3 brother-in-laws, Tim Arbow of Eugene and Jay and Tony Arbow of Bend. And sister-in-laws, Miriam Chapman of Springfield, Betty Johnson of Oregon City and Rosie Davis of Bend.

The family will have a private service for themselves and a public Celebration of the Man and His Music will be held at the Lowell Covered Bridge on March 15th at 6 P.M. Jerry and Sue believed in the greater good, in lieu of flowers they ask that donations be made to the Willamette Valley Cancer Center Foundation or a charity of your choice.

Please sign the guest book at www.registerguard.com/legacy