James Evans Fox

James Evans Fox, at the end of a long and wonderful life, passed away at his home on Lake Harris in Yalaha, Florida on July 3, 2025.
He was 105. He was born to Fred A. and Edna Evans Fox on their farm near Elkton, Michigan on April 5, 1920. He was the younger brother of Winifred Fox Wheaton and Harriet Fox Eddy. During the Great Depression he lived his early years on the family farm, traveling by horse and buggy, using an outhouse, taking Saturday baths in a washtub, attending a one-room schoolhouse, and wearing knickers as boys of that era did.
Right after Pearl Harbor he joined the U.S. Navy, and served in the South Pacific as part of the 1st Battalion of the Seabees (Construction Battalion). In 1944 he married Neva June Rommel, his long-time sweetheart. Together they had four daughters. Using the GI Bill, he earned a degree from the University of Michigan in Wood Technology, a new field at the time. After a few different jobs he had a long career with the American Plywood Association. The family settled in Gary, Indiana where they enjoyed Lake Michigan and the Indiana Dunes. Mr. Fox built or renovated five homes for the family over the years (plus tree houses, dog houses, bird houses), and crafted beautiful furniture. He enjoyed a fulfilling artistic pursuit of carving birds. In 1987 he and June retired to Yalaha, Florida.
Mr. Fox is survived by two daughters, Joyce Fox of Yalaha, and Jean Fox of New York City; five grandchildren, Matthew Gable of Konnarock, Virginia; Claude Gable of Bristol, Virginia; Beverly Richardson (John Cloutier) of Whitetop & Charlottesville, Virginia; James Richardson (Lauren) of Alexandria, Virginia; Cole Fox of Brooklyn, New York; and great grandson Mitchell Atticus Richardson of Alexandria, Virginia.
He was preceded in death by June, his wife of 56 years; daughter Dr. Janice Gable of Westville, NJ and formerly of Konnarock, Virginia; daughter Judith Fox (Jeffrey) of Yalaha, Florida; and grandson Jacob Richardson of Whitetop, Virginia.
James Fox loved his family, nature, camping, country roads and smoking his pipe. He was a very good singer, whistler, and harmonica player. He enjoyed writing, and his expressive vocabulary always entertained us. Mr. Fox was a man of dignity, gentleness, grace and good humor. His love lives on through us.