Merle Evan Cox

Merle Evan Cox, January 11, 1947 – November 9, 2025, Portland, Oregon. Merle Evan Cox, 78, of Southwest Portland, Oregon, passed peacefully on November 9, 2025. Born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and raised in Butte, Montana, Merle cherished family, nature, and adventure. His journey led him proudly to serve in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He married the love of his life, Pam, and together, they moved to Portland in the mid-1960s. There, they proudly raised five daughters and recently celebrated 60 years of marriage. A true outdoorsman, Merle was skilled at hunting, fishing, and archery, loved camping, and found joy in teaching others through the Oregon Hunter Safety Education Program. He raised Labrador retrievers and could often be found sharing stories about the outdoors or a bit of "dad wisdom" with anyone willing to listen. In addition to his passion for the outdoors, Merle worked as a tradesman before returning to college in his 50s to earn his degree and begin a new career as a building inspector in Bend. His work ethic and integrity defined how he lived his life. Merle was preceded in death by his daughter, Kara Cox, his parents, Mayhew & Alvera Cox, and his siblings, Donald Cox, Ellen Krause, Florence Ryan, and Lynn Cox. He is survived by his wife, Pamela Cox; his children, Paula Henderson, Merla Turner and husband Charles, Heather Bradford and husband Daerian, and Hillary Brown and husband Don; and his siblings, Lyle Cox, Dianne Fenton, and Ruth Hutchinson. He was also a loving grandfather to Amanda and husband Chris, Elizah, El, Sky, Storm, Soarin, and Piper. To those who knew him, he will be remembered for quiet strength, compassion, and a twinkle in his eye. His presence brought warmth to every gathering, and his legacy of kindness will live on. He often sang a favorite tune, and it feels right to close with it now: "My home is Montana, I wear a bandana, my spurs are of silver, my pony is grey. When riding the ranges, my luck never changes: with foot in the stirrup, I'll gallop away."