Robert Earl Cox, Sr.

On Saturday, June 10, 2023, Robert Earl Cox, Sr., of Ocean Springs, left behind a large, loving family and a host of friends as he journeyed from this world to continue his life in Heaven. 

Robert was born on September 5th, 1932, in New Orleans to Harold Ivan Cox and Elise Ryan Cox. He attended St. Alphonsus and Ocean Springs High School, where he was voted “Cutest Boy” and “Mr. Ocean Springs High School”. He excelled in basketball, football, baseball, participated in school plays, and was the yearbook editor of his graduating class of 1952. 

Robert joined the Air Force and served for four years, stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, where he met and married his devoted wife, Peggy Smith Cox. They traveled home to Ocean Springs in 1956 with nothing but a picture of Jesus and a suitcase. There, he worked at Ingalls Shipbuilding for two years before becoming a barber and opening Cox’s Barber Shop which he owned and operated until he retired after 45 years. 

Robert’s life in Ocean Springs was long, well-lived, and full of love. He and Peggy started their family, raising five daughters and a son. He served as a City Alderman and Alderman-at-Large for eight years, owned Robert Cox Construction, Inc., was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus Council #5654, served as an officer of the Jaycees, and served as a volunteer firefighter, where in 1969 during Hurricane Camille, he saved a baby’s life by performing the Heimlich Maneuver. Robert coached little league, semi-pro baseball, and American Legion. He also played semi-pro baseball for Gulf Hills Realty. Robert was an avid golfer and managed the Marsh Island Golf Course for two years. He established the Pine Island Men’s Day Game, ran the Knights of Columbus Golf Tournament for many years, and eventually he and Peggy made their forever home on the 10th fairway of Gulf Hills Golf Course.

What started with an invitation to do the Bunny Hop blossomed into a long life of selfless devotion and love to all he knew, whether related or not. Everyone was family and greeted with an embrace and a smile. 

Robert's siblings, Shirley Seymour (Narvin),  Harold “Junior” Cox (Evelyn), Stanley “Jimmy” Cox (Delores), and great-granddaughter, Katelyn Mitchell, welcomed him into Heaven.

He left a legacy of loving family and friends who will miss him until the day they meet again including the love of his life and wife of 66 years, Peggy Cox; siblings, Ernest “Moochie” Cox (Annabelle), Rose Marie Cox Smith (J.B.); children, Susan Cox Dollar (Gery), Cheryl Cox Verhoeven (Gary), Cindy Cox Dollar (David), Nan Cox Fountain (Carl), Pam Cox Ferrill (Gerald), and Robert E. “Bobby” Cox, Jr. (Lori); grandchildren, Andrea Mitchell, Stacey Johnson, Natalie Lancaster (Jesse), Tiffany Sparks, Lisa Ferguson (David), Kyle Dollar (Christy), Rachel Green (Kenny), Matthew Jalanivich (Stephanie), Chase Ferrill, Darren Cox, Chad Ferrill, Chaney Ferrill (Emily), Anslee Harris, and Evan Harris; great-grandchildren, Graham Ferguson, Everett Andrews, Julie Andrews, Oliver Andrews, Payton Mitchell, Gabe Mitchell, Brooklynn Lancaster, Trey Lancaster, Rileigh Grace Parker, Kynleigh Johnson, Matthew Jalanivich, Caroline Jalanivich, Jordan Green, Blaine Sparks, Ryder Green, and Kashton Grey; and great-great grandchild, Adalyn McCarthy; as well as many others he loved as his own.

Throughout his life marked with acts of service, spending time on hobbies, and with his friends, nothing else speaks more to his life than his love for his family. By blood or by choice, Robert loved each of us as his own.

While we will all miss him greatly, we find solace knowing he is with open arms, pacing around Heaven’s gate with a wide grin and a warm embrace at the ready, waiting patiently for his bride and saying, “Let’s go, Peggy!”

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Friends may visit from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family and friends of Robert Earl Cox, Sr.