Gene Spracher Cox

Mr. Gene Spracher Cox, 87, of Ocean Springs, MS, passed away at his home Thursday, January 22, 2009. "Da", as his great grandsons call him, lived a long fulfilled life and was with his loving family at the time of his passing. Gene was born March 21, 1921, in Norton, Virginia. Travels with the U. S. Army during WW II carried him all over the world. Upon his return in 1946, he married his long time love, Nell Jones. After receiving his doctoral degree from Duke University, Gene and Nell moved to Texas and then to Montana, where they became the joyful parents of Tom and Alan. Soon after their children were born, the family moved to Missouri where they resided until moving to Mississippi. Gene retired from the University of Missouri in 1988 after a 30 year career as a professor of forestry. He and Nell moved to Ocean Springs in 2000 to be near their son and family. Gene was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Nell; son, Tom; parents, and brother, Tom Cox. He is survived by his Son, Alan Cox and his wife, Bridgett, of Ocean Springs; granddaughters, Kelly Cox of Long Beach, and Michelle McKibben of Gainsville, FL; grandsons, Jason Wallace and his wife, Tara, of Centerville, VA, and Brandon Wallace and his wife, Cassie, of Ocean Springs; and two great-grandsons, Finnigan O'Neal Wallace and Liam Gene Wallace, of Ocean Springs. Memorial services will be held in Kingsport, Tennessee. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home in Ocean Springs is in charge of local arrangements.