Jeannie Cox

Jeannie Blackham Cox, born December 5, 1949, passed away on April 18, 2021 after battling complications following open heart surgery in February.   She was preceded in death by her parents Paul Emerald and Jacquelyn Shand Blackham; and her brother Paul William Blackham.  She is survived by her husband John R. “Jack” Cox; daughters: Jacquelynn (Harvey) Carmichael, Jeanna (Tony) Chiodo, Erica (Doug) Witherington; sons: John Clifford Cox and John Alexander Cox; grandchildren: Julian, Anthony, Hudson, Chloe, Ava, and Trey; sister, Linda (Jerry) Coyle; brother, John (Darlene) Blackham;and cousins, nieces and nephews, all of whom she adored.

Mom loved animals of every kind, especially horses.  She was an accomplished horsewoman and spent countless hours riding in the mountains, down at the fairgrounds and all over Manti.  In her youth, she would occasionally sneak out at night with her friend Lana to ride their horses around town or to “borrow” her brother’s car.  Mom was also known for bringing home many strays and never lived down the time a stray cat she brought home delivered its kittens on her mom and dad’s bed.  Her love and compassion for all animals continued throughout her life.  She and Jack nursed many animals back to health including horses, dogs, cats and even goats.  If an animal was fortunate enough to find its way into the Cox family, it was truly a lucky animal guaranteed a long life of loving care.

Mom loved her family more than anything.  She loved her childhood and all the family traditions that her parents, aunts and uncles made happen in her life.  She loved her brothers and sister and cousins and all the fun they had growing up in Manti.  Mom loved Manti and her life here and built a house across the street from her mom and dad where she raised her daughters to know the value of hard work.  We have many special memories of cutting firewood on the mountain, hauling hay, mowing lawns and doing yard work along-side our mother and grandmother.  Mom exemplified a strong work ethic, working more than one job if needed as she was raising us.  She taught us we could do hard things and sent us out into the world prepared for it.  She took us to countless horse shows and was our number one cheerleader, teacher and friend.  She taught us to believe in ourselves and know that we could accomplish anything we put our minds to.  Her life in those years was focused on her family, especially her daughters and doing everything in her power to teach us what we would need to know to become successful in the world.  Any accomplishment or success we have had is directly attributable to her love and belief in us and the way she raised us.

Mom worked at Pacific Trails and then for Manti City where she made many lifelong friends.  She went on to have a long and distinguished career for the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development.  It was through this work that she met and married her eternal companion, Jack Cox.  Mom was always happy and positive about life but when she met Jack, her happiness truly began.  Mom not only gained a husband and two more children, but eventually another son, Alex, whom we all love and are so grateful to have in our family. Jack and Mom enjoyed many years riding their horses and caring for their animals.  They also enjoyed frequent trips to the Caribbean, numerous cruises, road trips to Minnesota to visit Jeanna and Erica, a trip to see the Kentucky Derby and maintaining the family traditions of mom’s youth.  Jack was not only an incredible husband to our mother, he is a wonderful father to us as well.  We cannot begin to adequately describe the unfailing and selfless devotion he showed for our mother.  He never left her side through sickness and health and was a wonderful husband to her.

Mom also loved being a grandma. Shortly after her retirement, she selflessly opened grandma daycare and devoted her days to loving and taking care of her grandchildren while their parents were away at work.  Mom was known for being a worrier, and her parting words to us as we left her home were always  “I love you” and “Watch for Deer!”.  Her worries for her children and grandchildren ran deep like her love for them.  Her grandchildren became her companions.  They loved being with grandma and grandma loved being with them.

Mom had a strong testimony of the gospel and loved serving others.  She enjoyed her callings in the Primary, Relief Society and being on the funeral committee and made many special friendships that meant a lot to her. She enjoyed indexing and indexed thousands of names over the course of a few short years.  She also loved going to the temple and found a peace there that she cherished.  Mom missed her mom and dad and brother Bill and there was always an ache within her for the loss of them in her life.  She hoped for visitations at least in dreams and would often tell us that she was not afraid to die and not to mourn for her because she would finally get to be with her mom and dad and brother again. We know they came for her and she is overjoyed to be reunited with them as well as her Uncle Jack, Aunt Ruby, cousin David and many others.  Back here on the farm, we are grief-stricken with the loss of this incredible woman who was everything to all of us and has left an enormous void that cannot be filled.

Graveside service will be held on Friday April 23 at the Manti Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. A viewing will be held prior to the graveside service from 11:00-12:30 at the Manti 5th Ward Chapel, 300 South and Main Street.  Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com.  Funeral Directors:  Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti