Ella Cox passed peacefully and ran into the arms of her Savior on July 11, 2018 at her home in Waco, with her family by her side. She had resided in Odessa for the previous 59 years before moving to Waco in March of 2018.
A visitation will be held at the First Baptist church in Odessa at 10:00 a.m. on Monday July, 16. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary at FBC Odessa.
Ella was was born in Big Spring, Texas on May 25th, 1930 to Thompson and Ella Bostick. She was the only girl of seven children, growing up with six brothers gave Ella her grit and determination. She graduated from Highland High School then from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene in 1951. At Hardin Simmons, she met and married the love of her life, Jay Cox. They spent 67 years together.
Ella fulfilled her calling as a teacher by teaching in the public schools in Archer City, Weinert and Odessa for thirty five years, the last twenty six at Ross elementary in Odessa. Ella was named the Region 18 Teacher of the Year in 1988, she loved teaching and cherished her students, each and every one.
Ella also taught Sunday school for 25 years at Crescent Park Baptist Church in Odessa. She loved her Lord and cherished the opportunity to influence anyone for the kingdom. She and Jay left Odessa having been faithful members of First Baptist Church in Odessa for the last twenty years.
Ella continued her life of service by serving many church and community based organizations including Meals on Wheels, Senior Homebound Ministries and the Permian Basin Mission Center.
Ella and Jay had three children; Jane Hatch (deceased), Steve Cox and his wife Marcy of Arlington, and Kyle Cox and his wife Jana of Waco. They cherished their four wonderful grandchildren; Xyan McWilliams of Brackettville, Christa Anz of San Diego, California, Lauren Staats of Hurst and Jay Cox of Waco. She was also a blessing to and blessed by six great grand children and her many nieces and nephews who called her “aunt sis” since she was the only girl on her mother’s side of the family.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Ella Bostick Lloyd, her biological father Thompson Bostick who died when she was one year old, her step father Hollis Lloyd, her daughter Jane Hatch, her brothers Alton Bostick, Bud Bostick, Horrace Bostick, Earnest Bostick, James Bostick and Hollis Lloyd.
Left to cherish her memory are her beloved husband Jay, her sons Steve and Kyle, her beloved daughter in laws Marcy and Jana, her grand children and great grand children and so many special family members and lifelong friends.
Ella was a blessing to many and was blessed by so many. She loved her family, friends and had a special passion for children, the downtrodden and elderly. She loved the Lord and his church and spent many hours studying his word and praying for anyone and everyone. She was a fierce and compassionate warrior for the kingdom.
Ella will be missed by so many but we will see her again, we know this to be true.
