Cory J. Cox

Cory J. Cos

NEWARK : On Saturday, June 27, 2015, Cory J. Cox was welcomed into eternity by three men who were closest to his heart: his beloved grandfather Marion Dunfee, father-in-law John Anderson, and special friend Kyle Bolitho.

Cory was with us for only 33 years, but created a legacy of love, commitment, and genuine caring that will carry on. His life touched so many people, and he meant something different to each of them.

To the love of his life, Rachel, he was the yin to her yang. He loved her with all his heart and was unconditionally committed to her and the life they'd created together with their children. He was her rock, and she was his.

To his son Talan, he was the best buddy ever, an expert soccer coach, and cannonballer extraordinaire. They took quiet walks in the woods together, watching deer and hunting mushrooms, and shared father-son bike rides on the backroads near home.

To Pierce, his little girl and darling of his heart, he was a protector, a joker (assuring her that she wasn't allowed to date until she was thirty), and a loving father.

Every night, Cory made sure he tucked each child in, kissed them goodnight and told them he loved them.

To his brother Cody, Cory was a best friend, a childhood confidant and co-conspirator, general contractor on the many forts they built in the woods. The other half of "the Cox team," and the big brother who always got the joke. Cory was so proud that he would serve his brother as his best man at his marriage to Nicole McClain this fall.

To his mother Kay, Cory was the world. Her first-born son. When he looked up at her as a little boy, her heart melted with pride. Later, as he became a grown man, she looked up to him, and was even more proud.

With his father Dan, Cory shared a love of motorcycles, and the hours they spent tinkering with their bikes included many long conversations. Dan cheered Cory's accomplishments throughout his life, as a sports standout and later, as the wonderful father and husband he became. Cory wanted his father to be proud of him, and he was.

With his very special aunt Barb Ravotti, Cory shared a special bond. Childhood summers spent together, doing crafts, and swimming in her pool (including conspiring with Cody to climbing out the window to get to the pool when she wasn't looking). Their bond continued into adulthood as Cory helped her with yard work and she rewarded him with special lunches.

To his best friend Jason Henry, Cory was a loyal friend, a brother of the heart. A hunting buddy, Harley lover, and always up for the next adventure. Their bond was unshakeable.

Cory and Rachel were inseparable. He always stood by her side, and they were united in the decisions they made together as parents. Less than a week before the accident, on Father's Day, Rachel dedicated Brad Paisley's song, "He Didn't Have to Be" to Cory, celebrating the love that Cory had for Pierce, the daughter she brought to their marriage. One line in the song is "We went from 'something's missing' to a family." That's what happened when Cory and Talan joined Rachel and Pierce as a family.

Cory and Rachel were at the center of every gathering. They created an extended family of friends - with whom they shared dinner every week - and bonus family members as they brought their blended families together. Cory welcomed his step-siblings Alyx, Devyn, and Zachary and step-father Steve into his heart as if they'd always been there.

Cory and Rachel loved to ride their Harley together, and participated in poker run fundraisers many times, including one they created to benefit the American Heart Association in memory of Rachel's father John Anderson.

Moments before his passing, Cory was joyfully riding that bike, his wife's arms around him. His last experience of life on earth was doing something he loved, wrapped in the arms of his soul mate. Reflecting on our final moments, we always say we want our loved ones by our side. Cory had that with Rachel.

During a difficult time recently, Cory said to his mother, "When you are your weakest is when you need to be the strongest." For us, that time is now.

Left to celebrate his life are his parents, Dan Cox and Kay (Steve) Gold; wife Rachel; children Talan Cox and Pierce Anderson; brother Cody (Nicole McClain) Cox; step-sisters Alyx Gold and Devyn Gold; step-brother Zachary Gold; grandmothers Pauline Dunfee and Deloris "Pinky" Cox; grandfather Joe Cox; mother-in-law Darla Anderson; brother-in-law J.J. (Lindsey) Anderson; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins and very special friend Jason Henry.

Rachel's injuries from the accident are extensive, and her healing will be long and difficult. In lieu of flowers, contributions toward her recovery expenses and her children can be made to the Cory Cox Memorial Fund, Century National Bank, 100 Downtowner Plaza, Coshocton, Ohio 43812.

As we part from Cory now, we can almost hear him saying, as he did so often … "Right on, and peace out."

A Life Remembrance for Cory will be held on Friday, July 10, 2015 from 5:00 - 9:00pm at Given-Dawson Funeral Home, 186 Park Avenue, Coshocton, Ohio. An online memorial can be viewed at www.given-dawsonfuneralhome.com.