Karen Jo Cox

Karen Jo (Osborne) Cox, age 70, of Rutledge, TN, formerly of Harlan, KY, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 17, 2025, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, with her devoted husband of more than 50 years by her side. Her passing followed a brief but hard-fought battle with cancer.
Karen was born on January 18, 1955, to Ernest "Joe" Osborne and Evelyn (Estes) Osborne. A proud graduate of James A. Cawood High School, Class of 1973, she went on to attend Southeast Community College, where she became a laboratory technician and began her career at Pineville Community Hospital.
In 1975, she married her high-school sweetheart, Teddy Cox, in a beautiful spring ceremony at the chapel at Pine Mountain Settlement School, surrounded by their closest friends and family. After welcoming their children, Karen returned to school at Union College in Barbourville, KY, earning both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Elementary Education.
Teaching became more than a profession for Karen - it was her calling. She began her career at Cumberland Elementary School, teaching third grade, before finding her long-term home at Loyall Elementary, where she taught sixth grade for many years. After Loyall School closed, she went on to continue her career at Hall Elementary School. She later served as the director of the Gifted and Talented Program for the Harlan County School District. "Mrs. Cox," as she was affectionately known, inspired generations of students and teachers alike, through her kindness, creativity, and unwavering belief in their potential. Nothing brought her greater joy than running into former students and hearing about their lives and accomplishments.
After retiring, Karen and Teddy fulfilled their dream of settling on the shores of Cherokee Lake in Rutledge, TN. There, she cherished her role as "Nene," pouring her heart into her grandchildren and family, and continuing to share her warmth and compassion with everyone she met.
In addition to her parents, Karen was preceded in death by her beloved grandmother, Nell Crider; father-in-law Charlie Cox; brother-in-law Charles "Tiny" Cox; and sister-in-law Debra (Joe) King.
She is survived by her loving husband, Teddy Cox; her daughter, Stacy (Matt) Haines of Dayton, OH; her son, Teddy Kevin Cox of Lancaster, KY; her adored grandchildren, Trenton Duncan of Lexington, KY, Carson Haines of Dayton, OH; and Addison Haines and her mother Kristin Haines, of Springboro, OH; her mother-in-law Irene Cox and brother-in-law Rick Cox both of Loyall KY, her nephew Rick Cody (Tiffany) Cox and their girls Sienna, Serissa and Elly, of Elcomb, KY.
Karen's wishes for cremation were honored, and no services are scheduled at this time.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to any local program supporting the children of Harlan County, KY-continuing Karen's lifelong dedication to nurturing young lives.
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