Jack H. Cox

TRAVERSE CITY — Jack Harrison Cox, age 85, passed away on Jan. 31, 2010, after a brief stay at The Pavilions in Traverse City.

Jack was born on Oct. 5, 1924, to Henry and Nora Cox on the Cox farm in Williamsburg. Jack had an older brother, McKenzie and a younger sister, Joan Walters.

He married Marion Ruth Shepard on Oct. 11, 1947, in Detroit, at the All Saints Episcopal Church. They made their home in Traverse City because there was no other place either wanted to be. Together they built three homes, with Jack as the self-taught carpenter, plumber and electrician. Marion was the decorator, and they made a great team.

As a proud Central High School Trojan, Jack participated in football, basketball and track. He enjoyed lifelong activities including golf, swimming, sailing, skiing and snowmobiling, and spent many wonderful hours fishing with his best buddies, his father, Henry and his brother, Mac. He loved the outdoors, which was his inspiration for living.

Jack served his country in the Navy from 1943 to 1958, even leaving high school early to enlist. He served on a naval destroyer during World War II and continued in the Naval Reserves as a Motor Machinist Mate until he was honorably discharged.

He was a member of the Elks Lodge, the First Congregational Church and the American Legion.

He and his brother, McKenzie operated Cox Brothers Service Station, where they launched the Hertz Car Rental Agency for several years at the corner of Front and Park streets. Jack then joined Consumers Power Company and enjoyed a long career as a repairman, retiring as a supervisor for repair crews in Northern Michigan.

Surviving are Jack's wife of 62 years, Marion; and daughters, Jacque (Ed) Schmitt, Carole (Bill) Dwyer and Bev (Mike) Gore. He was very proud of all his grandchildren, Chris (Jacqui) McGrew, Doug (Tonya) McGrew, Zach (Anne) Gore, Danielle Gore, Erin (Nate) Atterberry, Alex Gore, Megan (Lars) Kelto, Adam (Erica) Dwyer and James Dwyer. Also of great joy were five great-grandchildren, (Chris and Jacqui) Kayla, Jack Henry and Cameron McGrew and (Doug and Tonya) Morgan and Nora McGrew. He is also survived by his sister, Joan Walters and her children, Barbara (Rick) Anderson, Jim (Kim) Walters and Bob (Terra) Walters; sister-in-law, Victoria Cox and her son, David (Amy); brother-in-law, Albert Hyde; niece, Lyndon; and nephew, Roger (Kathy) Hardy.

In their retirement, Jack and Marion traveled to New England and south in the winters. But the best times were summers on their beach on East Bay with their family and friends, because for Jack there truly was "no place like home."

The service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6, at First Congregational Church, 6105 Center Road, Traverse City.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the music programs of the First Congregational Church.

Please share thoughts with the family at Jack's online register book at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.