Forrest Bernard Cox

Forrest B. Cox Jr. passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday December 7th at the age of 88 in Lakewood, Colorado. in Lakewood, Colorado.

Forrest, or Frosty as he was known by his friends, or “little-Frosty” as he was known to his parents, Helen and Forrest Cox Sr. and little sister Judy, was a devoted and dutiful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, sports-enthusiast, and golfer.

Born in 1935 in Topeka, Kansas, the Cox family relocated to Boulder, Colorado when Frosty was only a week old. Frosty grew up below Chautauqua Park on the Hill and on the basketball court, while his father, “big-Frosty”, was head basketball coach for the University of Colorado Buffaloes.

Frosty started high school in Boulder but finished at Wakefield High School after the family moved back to Kansas to pursue ranching. Frosty was county pole-vault champion in a graduating class of 17 students.

Frosty started his undergraduate education at the University of Kansas as an ROTC student and played basketball for the Jayhawks. However, the family moved a few years later to Missoula, Montana when another coaching opportunity for “big-Frosty” drew the family north. Frosty finished his education and basketball career at the University of Montana where he earned a Business Administration degree while playing basketball for his father.

Following college, Frosty began a military career in 1958 as a Captain in the Air Force and was posted at McGuire AFB adjacent Fort Dix in central New Jersey. His military service included several postings in southeast Asia until he completed his active duty five years later in 1962.

Frosty married his college sweetheart, Mary Jean Schilling, in an Episcopal wedding and backyard reception in August 1961 after proposing earlier that same week while both were home in Missoula on vacation. Their honeymoon consisted of a road-trip back to New Jersey.

Following military service, Frosty and Jeanie settled in Denver, Colorado in 1962 before moving to Lakewood in 1972. Frosty spent his professional career with the Denver-based Gates Rubber Company managing their Risk Insurance programs. Frosty and Jeanie raised three children, Curtis, Kimberly, and Kristina before Jeanie’s passing in 1982.

In 1983 Frosty and Nancy J. Jensen were married, and the new couple consolidated family nests in Evergreen, Colorado, with Nancy’s kids Darcy and David. Frosty and Nancy were happily married for over 40 years with Nancy rarely leaving his side in those final days. Frosty and Nancy are members of Wellspring Anglican Church in Englewood Colorado.

Frosty’s family meant the world to him and his care for them is his enduring legacy. Frosty will be remembered as a devoted and faithful husband and parent; the one who never missed his grandkids’ soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, or hockey game; the one who was called when a tire was flat, when a drive to the airport was needed, or when the babysitter canceled at the last minute; the one who spoke through his actions more than his words; the one who provided a model of consistency, perseverance, and loyalty. Frosty’s favorite pastime was watching sports with family at his side. Football, college basketball, baseball, and hockey games were always his favorites.

Frosty is survived by his wife Nancy; five children - Curtis, Darcy, Kimberly, David, and Tina; seven grandchildren - Corey, Erin, Lauren, Kayla, Kameron, Toby, Maia; four great-grandchildren - Calvin, Carter, Asher, Thea; his sister Judy West and her three daughters, Julie, Jennifer, and Janet; and his sister-in-law Nancy Caine and her two sons Brian and Shawn.

He will be remembered with love and greatly missed.

A family internment service will be held on December 20, 2023, at Mountain View Memorial Park in Boulder.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Wellspring Church in Englewood Colorado on January 24th 2024, at 1:00p with a reception to follow.

Charitable donations in Frosty’s memory can be made to The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.