Clifford William Cox, age 87, passed away on November 10, 2025. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Clifford was born February 4, 1938, in Willow Springs, Missouri, to his parents, Glen and Thelma Cox. He graduated from Willow Springs High School in 1956 and served in the United States Navy from 1956 -1960. When he returned home from the Navy, he met and married his lifelong love, Edna “Louise” Bradford. They began their nearly 65 year marriage on December 28, 1960. Clifford and Louise raised four children together: Terry, David, Sharon, and Stan. They lived in Mountain Grove, Missouri, for many years, then moved to West Plains, Missouri, where they resided the rest of their lives.
Clifford worked his entire life for the telephone company, starting as what he referred to as a “weed wacker” and eventually working his way up to an Outside Plant Engineer.
Clifford was a talented guitar player and loved listening to Bluegrass music. He could listen to a song and then pick the melody by ear. He could often be heard picking his guitar in the evening before bedtime. He and his wife, Louise, attended many Starvy Creek Bluegrass festivals together and these were shared as some of their most joyful memories. Clifford was a devout Christian and attended Oak Lawn Church of God for many years. He and Louise would often play and sing gospel songs for the congregation.
Clifford loved football. Some of his favorite memories came from watching his sons play high school football for the West Plains Zizzers. He was so proud of them and talked about their best games his entire life. Not only was he a Zizzer fan, but he loved watching the Kansas City Chiefs and Mizzou Tigers. Clifford never missed a Chiefs game and as he grew older, you could count on him to wear his Chiefs shirts proudly and send all his adult children a “Go Chiefs!” text before each game.
Clifford was a proficient carpenter and electrician. He designed and built everything from wooden cradles for his grand-babies, to entire additions to his home. Clifford and Louise loved gardening. They spent many summers tending to their huge garden so that they could enjoy fresh vegetables and share them with loved ones. Many people claimed that his tomatoes were the best they had ever eaten! Clifford lived on a small farm his entire life and raised cows, rabbits, chickens, guineas, and pigs. He loved the outdoors and often took his sons hunting and fishing.
Later in life, Clifford loved to travel to southern plantations and national parks. He was knowledgeable about many things and was a great resource for life’s questions. He will be remembered as a quiet, gentle man who was kind to everyone he met.
Clifford is survived by his wife, Louise Cox; two sisters, Janice Gregory of Houston, Missouri, and Glenda Verlander and her husband, Tom, of Republic, Missouri; his children, Terry Cox and his wife, Pam, of Ft. Worth Texas, David Cox and his wife, Jeannie, of West Plains, Missouri, Sharon Chronister and her husband, Greg, of Kimberling City, Missouri, and Stan Cox and his wife, Jenny, of Rogersville, Missouri; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by parents, Glen and Thelma Cox; six siblings, Kenneth Cox, Ervin Cox, Larry Joe Cox, Grant Cox, Louise Simon, and Wanda Chritton; and one grandson, Zeb Cox.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
