Robert "Bob" Cox

Robert Gillespie Cox, 80, a resident of Fannin, MS passed away on June 9, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 2 pm Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at Fannin United Methodist Church with interment in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-8 pm Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon and 1-2 pm Wednesday at the church.

Robert was born on July 15, 1937 in Artesia, MS to Robert Henry and Frances Gillespie Cox. He spent his childhood in Booneville. He was both musically and athletically inclined as a member of the high school band and football team and later attended Northeast Junior College before transferring to his beloved Mississippi State University where he earned a degree in dairy science. After graduating from college, Bob as he then was called, took a job in Jackson at Dairymen Incorporated and soon met his wife of 49 years, Peggy Ann Lawrence. They made their home in Fannin. Eventually, he took a full-time position with the MS National Guard where he worked until his retirement in 1997. As a hobby, Bob enjoyed officiating high school football games. After many years of high school football, he decided that it was time to give up the hobby when he came home with cleat marks up his back. After retirement, Bob enjoyed working as a Rankin County Reserve Deputy and also held a position with the State Prison. There was never a MSU football game on that he missed or an episode of an old Western playing loudly on the television that he really wasn’t watching. In Fannin he earned the name of the “doctor” when the community children were growing up as he was the one always called for an injured child. He never met a dog, cat, or even guinea pig that he didn’t end up befriending. Bob also had a reputation for being a good cook and telling a good joke. After being converted to Methodism, which shocked his family of Baptists, Bob was a 49-year member of Fannin United Methodist Church. There, he could usually be found around a table entertaining the other men with a story or recapping a MSU game.

Bob is survived by his wife, Peggy Ann Lawrence Cox; daughters, Stacie Cox (Jason) Ownby and Robyn Cox (William) Wright; and grandchildren Isaac Cox and Robert and Lexie Ownby; sister and brother-in-law, Betty Jo and (Harry "Skip") Sharp; 2 nephews and a host of friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert H. and Frances Cox and his brother Jimmy Cox. Donations can be made to Fannin United Methodist Church or to Fannin Untied Methodist Church Cemetery Fund.