Obituary - David Park Cox

David Park Cox, a life long resident of Bates County, passed away at his home on March 29, 2015 at the age of 87. Private family Celebration of life services and burial will be held at Fort Scott National Cemetery, Fort Scott, KS. Services under the direction of Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler, (660-679-0009). Contributions are suggested to the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, 11300 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044-2793. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.


David was born December 11, 1927 to Richard and Pearl (Wade) Cox. He grew up on their family farm and attended a one room school before graduating from Butler High School with the class of 1945. In 1946 David enlisted in the US Navy and served on the submarine, USS Caiman. He then returned to farming and married Beverly Gander in 1952. Two children were born to this union. They moved to their farm located in the Pleasant Gap Township in 1955, where he resided until the time of his death. In his farming years he was active in the State Cattlemen Association, Pork Producers and a 4-H leader for 10 years. Conservation of the land was always a top priority and in 2005 he received the Bates County SWCD Wildlife Habitat Award. In the past years he was active in his church and had a special interest in the Baptist Children’s Home and mission work. At the time of his death he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Nevada. He is survived by Beverly, his wife of 63 years, daughter Sharon and Husband Theo Martin of Gladstone, MO, son Paul and wife Susan Cox of College Place, WA, and sisters Bettie Scifers, Virginia Baker, Joan Ghere, and Sara Burch.
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