John Cox's Obituary
John Willis Cox, Jr., passed away on November 6th, 2015, ten days before his 72nd birthday. He died suddenly at his vacation home on Pickwick Lake after a prolonged history of heart disease. John was born on November 16th, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas, to loving parents John Willis Cox, Sr., and Elizabeth Lamb Cox. John lived most of his life in Memphis, Tennessee. He graduated from Whitehaven High School and Christian Brothers College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Following his employment at the engineering firm Allen & Hoshall, John worked in cardiovascular research at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He then partnered with his colleagues and friends, Frank Keller and Ken Gregg, to form Computer Applications Corporation (CAC), a software development and consulting firm. After retiring from CAC, John worked as the Information Technology Director at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School. He retired from St. Francis in May 2014. John is survived by his wife of 45 years, Dee Ann; his two daughters, Lauren Strini (Matthew) and Cristin Ross (Ryan); his grandson, Colin Ross; and many extended family members and friends. John greatly enjoyed riding his motorcycle, going to the lake, and spending time with his family and friends. He was a loving and devoted husband and father, a loyal friend, and a generous, humble, kind man. He loved to laugh and to make others laugh with his teasing sense of humor. John was able to befriend anyone, and he touched the lives of all who knew him. He will be greatly missed by many. Visitation will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 11th, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. A funeral mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church on Thursday, November 12th, at 10:30 am, followed by burial at Memorial Park Cemetery. Because John was very grateful for all of the blessings in his life and felt that it was important to share with those in need, he was an avid supporter of multiple charities. In keeping with his generous spirit, the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a charity of your choice.
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