Bill Cox

Bill Cox, 87, of Pampa, passed away April 4, 2019 in Amarillo.

Services will be 10:00 AM Monday, April 8, 2019, at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel, with Keith Feerer, minister of Mary Ellen & Harvester Church of Christ, and Glen Walton, Church of Christ minister, officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.

Mr. Cox was born June 13, 1931 in Fort Worth to Lucille Edna and Clyde Barn Cox. He attended Pampa High School where he met and courted Beula Irene Turner while they were students. They married soon after graduation on June 25, 1950 in Pampa. He attended Clarendon College and receives his real estate license in 1979. Bill was a brick mason all his adult life. He worked for Phillips at the Borger plant before moving to Arizona in 1959 for 2 ½ years because of the health of the children. He was also a fireman for the City of Pampa from 1961 until 1963. He began building new houses in 1983 and continued building houses and laying brick until his retirement.

Bill enjoyed writing gospel songs. He wrote approximately 85 songs, complete with words and music. About half of those songs have been published in church hymnals. He also wrote poetry and served as president of the Amarillo Chapter of the Poetry Society of Texas in 1979-1980. He received statewide recognition for some of his poetry.

Bill led singing in worship services since he was about 8 years old, standing on an apple cart when his family lived at Lefors. He and Beula enjoyed singing for special occasions, weddings and funerals, as well as singing at both rest homes in Pampa on Sunday afternoons. He was a member and deacon of Mary Ellen & Harvester Church of Christ.

Survivors include two daughters, Judy Beasley of Pampa and Toni Brown Dwight of Pottsboro; a son, Duane Cox of Pampa; 7 grandchildren, Bobby Russell and wife Shelly of Nicholasville, Kentucky, Tammy Russell of Amarillo, Clint Cox and wife Courtney of North Carolina, Lori Cox of Terrell, Christopher Laubhan and wife Ann of Lindale, Nicholas Laubhan and wife Heather of Wylie, and Caleb Lemons of Lindale.

Memorials may be made to High Plains Children’s Home, 11461 S. Western, Amarillo, Texas 79118; Children’s Home of Lubbock, 1712 E. 31^st Street, Lubbock, Texas 79404; or Pampa Senior Citizens, PO Box 475, Pampa, Texas 79066-0475.