Jerry Cox
Jerry Gordon Cox was born at home in Sutherland, Nebraska, on May 8, 1936, the youngest child of Pansy and Merle Cox. He died at home in Holyoke on Nov. 15, 2019.
Jerry grew up on a livestock and irrigation farm in the North Platte Valley, where his family proudly traced his ancestors back to William Bradford of the Mayflower colonies.
He attended Sutherland schools and graduated as valedictorian of his class — all eight of them! He then became a Nebraska Cornhusker, graduating from University of Nebraska in Lincoln, where he majored in agriculture. Feeling a need to further his education, he headed to Washington State University at Pullman where he earned a master’s degree in agriculture, focusing on crops and seed production.
Jerry met Susan Fay Burkhart at an MYF meeting in Prosser, Washington. She lived on the Horse Heaven plateau, where her father raised dryland wheat. Jerry often said that he worried about his old car making it up the steep grade to her house. Jerry and Susie were married on June 14, 1958, in Prosser. They moved to Pullman, where their daughter Kari Marie was born on June 22, 1959.
After Jerry’s graduation, they moved with all their belongings in the back of the car, along with their newborn daughter, and a pull-behind U-Haul to Sunburst, Montana, along the Canadian border, where Jerry was employed by McDonnell Seed Company as an agronomist for two years.
As 1961 began, Jerry and Susie moved to his hometown of Sutherland, where he farmed with his father for a year and became a father again, this time to twin sons, Randall Ray and Landon Jay, on July 30, 1962. Shortly after their birth, Jerry and Susie and their newly expanded family moved to Holyoke, where Jerry had accepted a position as manager and co-owner of Holyoke Pork Producers.
In 1968 Jerry invested in his first farmland with two partners and proceeded to farm dryland wheat and irrigated corn, sugar beets and pinto beans with both flood and sprinkler irrigation. He continued to farm until his “retirement” in 1982, at which time he got a real estate license and worked selling homes and farmland.
Susie and Jerry’s family were active members of Holyoke Methodist Church and founding members of the Holyoke Swim Team. They raised their children through the Holyoke school system and sent them off to college, where Kari and Landon graduated from Colorado State University and Randy from Colorado School of Mines.
During their retirement, Jerry and Susie traveled and became enthusiastic members of the Holyoke Square Dance Club. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a dance and dinner in Holyoke. Jerry also became an avid golfer and member of the Holyoke Golf Club, where golfing on Christmas Day was always his goal.
After 61 years of marriage, Jerry and Susie proudly showed off six grandchildren who are all now grown.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary Maureen Cox Martens; brother, James R. Cox; nephew, Kenneth James Cox; and many old friends, including his longtime buddy, Kenny Schlachter.
Jerry leaves behind his children, Kari Marie Cox of Carlsbad, California, Randall Ray Cox and Nedda Cox of Sonoma, California, and Landon Jay Cox and Valerie Anderson Cox of Colorado Springs; grandchildren, Chauncenia Cox Carroll and Jake Carroll of Colorado Springs, Alishaunia Cox of Denver, Tayanita Cox Olavarria and Felipe Olavarria of Colorado Springs, Nakoa Cox of Colorado Springs, Kira Gaby of Davis, California, and Dane Gaby of Pomona, California.
Jerry will be sorely missed by family and friends, old and new.
A Celebration of Life was held Nov. 19 at the Holyoke Methodist Church, with Pastor Paul Brunner officiating, followed by an ice cream toast and graveside service at Holyoke Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Baucke Funeral Home in Holyoke.
Baucke Funeral Home directed the service.