Mary Ellen Cox © Brumley-Mills Funeral Home October 18, 2019 Submitted by: Carol Spear Rice
Mary Ellen Cox, 85, of McAlester, formerly of Ulan, died Friday, Oct. 18, at a local nursing center. The family will welcome friends at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home on Sunday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Monday, Oct. 21, at 10:00 a.m. at North Mt. Homa Church near Ulan, with Mike Ross and Ricky Kerns officiating. Burial will follow at Ulan Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Denny Cox, Larry Cox, John Lusk, Tommy Cox, Jeremy Cox, Daniel Peppler and Steve White. Mary Ellen Cox was born on Nov. 4, 1933 in Byington, Ok. to Howard Thomas and Mary Martha (Ward) Cox. She grew up in Ulan and lived there all her life. As one of the oldest of 10 children, she took on the role of "parent" and helped raise the other siblings, as well as taking care of the family farm and cows. She loved to raise gardens, both vegetable and flower gardens and was a great cook. She also enjoyed traveling whenever she could. But her love and passion was always focused on family and church. She was a long-time member of Ulan Baptist Church but more recently attended North Mt. Homa Church. Although Mary had lived in Ulan all her life, she spent the final few years at the McAlester Nursing Center. The family would like to offer a special thanks to the staff and residents there for the excellent care they provided. Mary is survived by her siblings, Jerry Cox and wife Genie of McAlester, Leona Thomas and husband Ronnie of Oklahoma City, Raymond Cox and wife Linda of Ulan, Ralph Cox of Ulan, Frank Cox and wife Jeannie of Indianola and Frances Lusk of Indianola; a sister-in-law, Ramona Cox of Ulan; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Bobby Joe Cox, Albert J. (Ab) Cox and Kenneth Cox.