Gary Cox

August 28, 1957 - August 5, 2014

Mr. Gary Cox, age 56 of Columbia, passed away Tuesday morning, August 5, 2014 at his residence. Funeral services will be conducted Friday, August 8, 2014 at 1:00 PM at First Family Church in Columbia. Burial will follow in the Garden of Love at Maury Memorial Gardens, located adjacent to Heritage Funeral Home. The family will visit with friends on Friday from 10:00 AM until the service hour at 1:00 at First Family Church. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Gary was born August 28, 1957 in Peoria, IL and was the son of the late Alice Nance Cox. He graduated from East Peoria Community High School and spent his career as a dispatcher for True Line Coring & Cutting in Nashville for 23 years. He married the love of his life, Cindy, in January of 1983. Over the next 31 years they shared experiences that created special memories to be cherished. However, the greatest gift and memory he gave her was on July 9, 2014, her birthday, when he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. His children recall him as an awesome father and grandpa. Without a doubt his best friends were his grandsons: Isiah and Kaleb. In any free moment, Gary loved to mow and weedeat the yard, plant flowers, or jump from the top of the pool ladder in a cannonball. He was passionate about Titans football, NASCAR and St. Louis Cardinals baseball. He was a handyman who could fix or make anything, and willing did so when asked. Gary is survived by his wife: Cindy Farley Cox of Columbia; his children: Brett Cox and Kelli Cox of Columbia; two brothers: John (Jeanne) Cox of East Peoria, IL and Jim Cox of Lewisburg; two sisters: Kate (Glen) Woodrum of Decatur, IL and Vic Stoneburner of East Peoria, IL; and his two grandsons: Isiah and Kaleb Cox. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by 3 brothers, 2 sisters and his special dog - Chance. The family requests memorial donations be made to the Food Pantry or the Weekender Meal Program at First Baptist Church.