Roger William Cox

On October 30, 2022, at the age of 88, Roger William Cox died peacefully surrounded by his family. Roger was born in Columbus, Ohio to Harold and Clarice Cox on April 26,1934. On September 8, 1956 he was wed to his beloved Norma Gail Dodds whom he shared 58 years with. One year later, he graduated from Ohio State University with a B.S. and an M.S of Chemical Engineering and accepted a job from Humble Oil refinery in Baytown, Texas. Shortly after moving, he was called upon to fulfill his duty as second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Eielson Air Force base in Alaska. After doing so, he returned to Texas to begin his 37-year career as a chemical engineer at Humble Oil & Refining Co. which was later renamed during his career as Exxon. In Texas and in Illinois his work pertained to polypropylene and butyl rubber plants.

Aside from his work, Roger was a longtime member of St. Mark’s Methodist Church in Baytown. He also had a passion for oil painting. For a little over a decade, he attended classes at the Art League of Baytown. If you visited his home, you would definitely receive a tour of his recently completed works. As a prolific artist, he also enjoyed gifting his work to others. The family extends heartfelt thanks to art teacher J.D. Avant for the support and compassion he provided as Roger’s health declined.

Throughout his life, Roger pursued exercise with vigor. He took up running in his fifties and at one point was logging up to 10 miles per day. Eventually, a bad back caused him to switch to cycling, and later, walking. He continued walking several miles each day, battling the mosquitos and picking up trash on his walking route at the Baytown Nature Center to ensure it was spotless. Roger also created his own CrossFit class “hauling concrete to the seawall behind his house” in a successful effort to repair erosion caused by a hurricane. He drove all over Baytown filling the back of his truck with concrete and rocks. He would not allow anyone to help him as he wheelbarrowed several tons from the back of his truck, through the backyard, and down a hill to the sea wall on Scott’s Bay. He went as far as to calculate how many tons he moved by himself (we can’t remember the amount, but heard each week of the increased bounty). If you knew Roger, you would understand why his children respected his request allowing him to do this on his own. Several years later he suffered two strokes (one milder and the second much worse), but pushed himself and recovered with only mild impairments. Through it all, he continued to be his wife’s caretaker, whom after an accident and many surgeries later could not walk unassisted. While continuing his walking at the Nature center, Roger joined his wife, Norma, for aquatic exercise classes that he continued until recently.

Roger was a truly amazing husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and his family was his greatest joy and blessing. He was happiest when his home was filled with a crowd of family, friends, children’s friends, and later on his grandchildren’s friends visiting for Sunday dinners or holidays. On Friday nights after football games, many people would also be at Roger and Norma’s home to gar fish late into the night on the bay. Their favorite guests were lifelong friends Carol and Jack Merkel and their seven children and their families. Thanksgiving was always their favorite holiday to celebrate with both of their families.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Norma, sister Martha Peck, brother Howard Cox, and granddaughter Kasie Clary.

He is survived by sisters Mary Simon, Caroline Ratcliffe, and his seven children–daughter Cindi and husband Randy Foster, daughter Elaine and husband Dean Hechler, son Dwight and wife Judy Cox, son Stephen and wife Karen Cox, daughter Kathy and husband Randy Cain, son Phillip and wife Allison Cox, and daughter Victoria Gordon.

He is also survived by grandchildren: Lisa and husband Cory Stults, James Manning and wife Brittany; Tara and husband David Barber, Tiffani and husband Travis Bryant; Jason Hechler, Jared Hechler and wife Rachyl, Laura and husband Nick Reasoner, Camille Cox and Mario Bonilla, Nicolle Cox; Abigail, Roger, and Eliza Cain; Jordan Barron and husband Scott Jannise; Carson Barron; Natalie Cox, Bryce Cox (and their mother Melinda Cox), Kendall and husband Matthew Ventura, Kenneth and wife Courtney Clary, and Krystal Clary; Connor and Sam (Megan) Gordon (and their father Craig Gordon). He will be missed by great-grandchildren: Tinley, Taylin and Tyler Stults, Calissa, Karina and Karli Jimenez; Mason Filla, Katie and Kyle Barber; Nash, Briella and Weston Manning; Lilly Hechler, Erik and Eva Reasoner; Isla Jannise; Lenora and Leo Ventura, Samuel and Oliver Clary.

A service of remembrance will be held Sunday, November 6, at 3:00 pm at St. Mark’s Methodist Church, 3811 N Main St, Baytown, TX 77521. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Art League of Baytown General Donation, or the Baytown Nature Center, Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center, 1724 Market Street, Baytown, TX 77520.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.navarrefuneralhome.com for the Cox family.