Claudine Barrett Cox

Claudine Barrett Cox

Claudine Barrett Cox, 90, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Saturday, August 30, 2014, in Philadelphia, PA, where she was living with her granddaughter Amanda. Claudine's love, passion, and charisma will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew her. As a woman of her time, Claudie never went out without her "heels, hose, hat, and handbag." As a woman ahead of her time, she challenged the boundaries for women of her generation.

Claudine, born on March 9, 1924, in Kampsville, IL, grew up in the suburbs of Chicago before marrying the love of her life, Lester L. (Bud) Cox, in 1946. The pair were partners in many philanthropic, professional, and recreational pursuits. They shared countless adventures with their beloved son and prized grandchildren. Claudine delighted in her family, and her family cherishes every moment spent with "Hennie."

After earning a B.A. and M.B.A. from Drury University and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Missouri, Claudie was an economics professor at both Drury and Missouri State Universities. For many years, she was the portfolio manager for the multiple Cox companies and for CoxHealth, a non-profit hospital named in honor of Lester E. Cox, Claudine's father-in-law.

Claudine engaged in extensive philanthropic and service work, including serving as the president of the Cox Hospital Auxiliary and on the Boards of Directors of Cox College, Drury University, Centerre Bank, Junior Achievement of Middle America, the Missouri State Chamber of Commerce, the National Board of Ordained Ministry and Higher Education for the United Methodist Churches, and the State Committee for the National Endowment for the Humanities. For eight years she served as a U.S. Representative to UNICEF and was an advisor and consultant for the Luso-American Development Foundation of Portugal. She enchanted many as "Aunt Claudie" on the Children's Hour and on the afternoon TV show MidDay with her pet monkey Cobbweb, both on KY3.

Always living life to the fullest, Claudie was active in The Springfield Little Theater as a board member, actress, and director. She enjoyed golf, tennis, fishing, gardening, and spoiling her two grandchildren. She loved spending time with her family at her summer home in Portugal and later in Florida. In her later years, Claudie played a mean game of bocce ball, made sneaky moves in backgammon, and was a scratch contender at Wii golf. Her firm tenderness was ever-present in her demands that her son Barry use sunscreen and her granddaughter Amanda get her homework done. She ended every night with a sweet reminder, "Don't let the bed bugs bite," or "See you in the morning—if the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise."

Claudie is predeceased by her husband, Lester L. (Bud) Cox; her parents, Claudius Spencer Barrett and Winnie Viola Foiles Barrett, and her siblings, Gwendolyn Barrett Sproat (Howard), Alta Barrett Bestler (Burt), and Patrick Quentin Barrett. She is survived by her brother, Elvis Spencer Barrett; her son, Lester Barrett (Barry) Cox; and her grandchildren, Amanda Barrett Cox (Mary Cate) and Lester Elliott Cox.

Visitation will be held at Klinger-Cope Family Funeral Home (1635 N. Benton Ave., Springfield, MO 65803) on Friday, September 5, 2014 from 4 till 6 pm. Funeral services will be held at Kingsway United Methodist Church (2401 S. Lone Pine Ave., Springfield, MO 65804) on Saturday, September 6, at 2pm, Pastor Jon Spalding presiding, with a reception to follow at the church. Interment at Hazelwood Cemetery will follow the reception. Online condolences may be left at www.klingner-midtown.com. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to Cox College via the CoxHealth Foundation (3525 S. National, Suite 204, Springfield, MO 65807) in memory of Claudine.