Lula Cleora Fox, “Lou,” and also “Lulu,” age 75, of Ozark, MO, formerly of Newcastle, OK, went to be with our Lord on Thursday, January 21, 2016 after complications of a brave battle with pancreatic cancer.

She was born at her parents home in Non, Oklahoma on July 21, 1940 to Henry Harvey Hendrix and Lessie Mary (Russell) Hendrix. “Cleora,” as she was known until she married, grew up in Non, on a farm where her Dad raised all kinds of farm animals and her mother gardened. She enjoyed many days exploring the land with her brother and playing with her lifelong friend, Zelma. Lou and her family attended the Free Will Baptist church of Non, and went to many “brush arbor” revival meetings. At age 11, she attended a service and realized she needed to receive Christ as her Savior. “I went up front and knelt at an old beat-up wooden alter, in the sawdust, and asked the LORD to forgive me of my sins. I gave my life to Jesus.” When Cleora was 9, she began taking piano lessons and at age12 she became the church pianist. This began a lifelong love of music and worship for her, and she became an accomplished musician. She attended a one-room schoolhouse until 8th grade and then attended high school in Gerty, OK. She was just 16 when she graduated Gerty High School in 1956. Cleora then attended college at East Central University in Ada, OK, where she graduated at age 19, with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Music. Upon graduation in 1959, Cleora moved to Newcastle and began teaching 5th grade. It was then, she caught the eye of Charles S. Fox. Although he began service in the U.S. Navy, they wrote letters to each other and stayed in touch throughout his deployment. They were married on May 11,1963, in Non, OK. Then immediately they moved to San Diego, CA, and on October 2, 1964 they had their first daughter, Cassandra Lou. Charles and Lou then moved to Oklahoma City where their youngest daughter, Teri Lea was born on June 17, 1969. Lou was a devoted wife, and happily followed her husband throughout many relocations with his position at Sears. They lived in Shawnee, OK; Columbia, MO; St. Joseph, MO; Kearney, NE; Salina, KS; Springfield, MO; Fayetteville, AR, and then finally retired and moved back home to Newcastle, OK. Charlie passed away in 2001, and in 2011, Lou moved to Ozark, MO, to be close to her daughter, Teri. In her lifetime, Lou was able to do many things. She was a teacher, a Commerce Bank teller while in Springfield, and a Mary Kay Salesperson for 26 years. She also played the piano in practically every church she attended, and was incredibly gifted in her ability to read music, and to transpose music to any key on the spot, and play by ear. Her authentic, God-worshipping spirit was a blessing and encouragement to all. Her greatest desire, was for others to know the God she loved. In her own words: “The most important thing in life is to recognize that Jesus Christ is real, not just a story about a man. He is the Holy One sent from God to live a sinless life. He was crucified, died and rose from the dead. This act paid the price for our sin and it was a free gift! Accept Him. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend to so many. Her positive spirit and warmth was felt by all who knew her, and though she will be missed by all of us, we look forward to seeing her again in Heaven one day.

Lou is preceded in death by her father and mother, Henry and Lessie Hendrix; her in-laws, Cloie and C. B Fox; her husband, Charles S. Fox; one brother, Vernis Hendrix; one sister and brother in law, Doug and Norma Hipfner.

She is survived by her daughter, Sandy Belschner and husband Brent of Moscow, Idaho; her daughter, Teri Roy and husband Greg of Rogersville, MO; her brother, Charles Hendrix, Sr. and wife Janet of Coalgate, OK; sister in law, Norma Hendrix of Holdenville, OK; brother in law, Jim Fox and wife Terri of Newcastle, OK; sister in law, Janet Tucker of Newcastle, OK; “special cousin,” Dolorus Housh of Newcastle, OK; her grandchildren, Brad Belschner and wife Sarah, Matthew Belschner and wife Anna, Derek Belschner and wife Laura, Evan Belschner and wife Joy, Grace, Hope, and Bekah Belschner, Lauren and fiancé Cody, Nathan and Emma Roy; and her great-grandchildren, Charlie and Micah Belschner, and a little girl Belschner, due to arrive in February.

Pallbearers for the services are Brent Belschner, Greg Roy, Nathan Roy, Newt Mitchell, Charles Hendrix, Jr., and Michael Hendrix.

Visitation will be at Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Newcastle, OK at 6:00 to 8:00pm on Monday, January 25, 2016. Funeral services will be held at 10:00am, Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at the First Baptist Church in Newcastle, OK, with Pastor Jeremy Freeman officiating. Interment will be at Blanchard Cemetery, Blanchard, OK