Harriet Frost Cox

Harriet Frost Cox passed away on October 25, 2022 at her home in Henderson, Nevada surrounded by her loving family. Born August 23, 1937 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Harriet was the daughter of Clarence Miller Frost Jr. and Maud Elaine Frost née Kircus. She grew up in Temple, Texas, and married her high school sweetheart Fred Butler Cox, Jr. in 1955. Harriet and Fred spent their early years at MIT in Boston, Massachusetts, and later relocated to Orange County, California, where they raised their family. During their time in southern California, Harriet was actively involved in a variety of charity organizations, including Angelitos de Oro, an auxiliary of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire fundraising organization. Harriet was an active runner, an accomplished social organizer and hostess, enjoyed reading and, in her later years, writing short stories and memoirs. She was a devoted wife and mother who constantly championed her family’s professional, educational, and personal pursuits.

Following retirement, Harriet and Fred divided their time between Flathead Lake, Montana, and Henderson, Nevada. They were instrumental in re-establishing a summer camp for the Boy Scouts on their property, Melita Island, and facilitating its eventual purchase by the Boy Scouts of America, Montana Council. In Nevada, Harriet and Fred continued to support Fred’s passion for engineering, science education and entrepreneurship through the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and together they established engineering scholarships, became members of the Palladium Society (donors of one million dollars), and eventually established the Fred and Harriet Cox Senior Design Competition, which has enriched the education of young engineers and awakened in them the possibility of entrepreneurship. Harriet and Fred Cox were proud Founders of the Smith Center for the Performing Arts and were active in supporting other local charities including the Nevada Ballet Theater, The Henderson Allied Community Advocates, the Henderson Presbyterian Church Food Bank, Hopelink, and St. Rose Hospital.

Harriet is survived by her three children: Fred Cox, III (Galina) of Las Vegas, NV, Alicia Stanfill (Vern) of Bountiful, UT, and Eric Cox (Alice) of Los Altos, CA; six grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held in Harriet's honor on Friday, November 11, 2022 at 11:00am at the Palm Eastern Cemetery located at 7600 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV. The service will be immediately followed by a reception at the Palm Eastern mortuary from 12:00pm – 2:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the UNLV Fred and Harriet Cox Senior Design Competition, via the Harriet Cox Memorial, UNLV Foundation, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box 451006, Las Vegas, NV, 89154 https://www.unlv.edu/engineering/support or the Henderson Presbyterian Church Food Bank, PO Box 91346, Henderson, NV 89009.