Cleo G. Cox, a former resident of Okemah, died Oct. 27, 2017 in Oklahoma City at the age of 96. Cleo was born in La Veta, Colo., Dec. 29, 1920 to Vernon Ralph Irwin and Lydia Mae (Heikes) Irwin. After losing a mother at the age of 5, her father brought Cleo and her two older brothers to Kansas to live with her Grandma for a while. After her father remarried when she was age six, they moved to Okemah.
Cleo married Aaron David when she was almost 18. They had two boys together, Larry and Gary. Aaron was a tail gunner of a B-17 during World War II. His plane was shot down, leaving Cleo as a young widow. She and the two boys lived with her in-laws for seven years.
Cleo then married John Cox, and they had two sons together, Ronald and Darrell. She and John had a farm between Henryetta and Weleetka. Besides working on a farm, Cleo was a member of the Home Economics Club. Cleo was a longtime member of the Henryetta Church of Christ and later the Okemah Church of Christ. She was also a member of the Eastern Star.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her stepmother, her first husband, Aaron David, second husband John Cox, two sons, Larry David and wife Sandra, and Gary David and wife Catherine and Darrell Cox of Okemah; a former daughter in law, Debby Sutton of Edmond; ten grandchildren: Johnalyn Whaley and husband John, Cynthia Davies and husband Lance, Aaron David, Larry David, Eric David and wife Beth, Jeff David and wife Stephanie, Alisa Menke and husband Steve, Kimberly Cox, Robin Ross and husband Joe, Becky Lee and husband Josh; 19 great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren.
Viewing will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, November 2, 2017 at Integrity Funeral Service.
Pallbearers will be, Jeff David, Steve Menke, Josh Lee, Aaron David, Larry David, and Aaron David. Honorary pallbearers will be additional grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m., Friday, November 3, 2017 at Integrity Chapel. Interment will follow in Westlawn Cemetery under direction of Integrity Funeral Service.