Juanita Gertrude Cox

Juanita Gertrude (Sexton) Cox passed Friday May 25th at Keene Town Hall Estates from respiratory failure. 93 years young, she had resided in Alvarado, Texas for over 45 years. Born in Stillwell, Oklahoma, January 3, 1925, Juanita but is survived in death by her 2 sons, Ronnie and Greg Cox, brother Jim Sexton, 6 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great grandchildren.

As the matriarch of her family, Juanita lived a life full of love and laughter. But with a long life there is inevitable loss. She survived her husband Curtis, son Borris, sister Leona Glover, brothers Karl, Ken, and Dale Sexton, grand-daughter Kim Cox and daughter in-laws Diane and Ginger Cox. Completely devoted to her family, they were her first and most important priority. Whether you knew her as Mom, Juanita, or Mamaw, she was always glad to see you and wanted to visit “just a little bit longer”, especially with a cup of coffee.

Mamaw was an incredible cook where butter and just a dash of sugar made even collard greens amazing. She orchestrated our Sunday dinners with comfort and ease, even though there could be as many as 20+ people on any given day. Everyone was welcome and there was always a seat for you if you stopped by.

She was our counselor, confidant, and always had a way of getting information out of you with her Ninja mind skills. She wanted to know how you were first, celebrating your life and accomplishments, putting herself last. But when you got her talking about her life and all that she had lived through, it kept us entertained and asking for one more story.

She could make you laugh so hard as she giggled with pure joy, retelling the funny highlights of the past. These are some of her favorites as described by her and her grandkids:

She loved to recount the time Kim’s husband, Alan, ate more than his share of her famous yeast rolls then boasted that “Mamaw’s rolls were good but not as good as his grandmothers”! Everyone at the table, aghast, was thinking “get a rope”! Mamaw’s rolls were legendary and even though she “gave” us the recipe, we’re pretty sure the real recipe went with her!

Brian remembers how she used her “Ninja mind skills” on him and Christopher one day after she realized that they had heisted a can of lighter fluid and a BBQ lighter to set fire to leaves out in the woods. She had the eyes of a hawk and even though she pretended she wasn’t listening she could hear everything, including the fact that you weren’t telling the truth. She used that information to interrogate them into confessing, much to their amazement.

At about 4 years old, Tamera wandered off and disappeared from Ginger and Mamaw for about 20 minutes…when she sauntered out of the chicken coop next door, Mamaw grabbed her arm and scolded her for running off! Tamera turned to her and called her the worst thing she could think of…a “rat fink”! Tamera still holds the honor of being the only grandchild Mamaw ever had to spank!

When Borris and Ronnie were first married, she taught their young brides, Ginger and Diane, to cook. One day they tackled a peanut butter pie. Ginger’s pie set up, but unfortunately Diane’s didn’t. After dinner that night Diane proudly brought her pie to the table and Ronnie asked her jokingly to “spoon some of that out for me would you”? The pie ended up “on” him instead “in” him and she ran to the bathroom and locked the door!

Cindy remembers the duck on wheels, and that we all had our special toys that Mamaw policed to make sure they stayed at the house…like “crazy rabbit”!

Rona and Mark hunted for toads under the house for their toad races. Mamaw got so mad when she found out that they had brought them inside the house. Thing like that put Mamaw on her “high-horse” which always happened when she was aggravated!

One summer day, Mamaw thought the way to keep Brian entertained was to teach him how to whittle…on a broomstick, with her instruction he sharpened the end like a spear. Taking it up to his Nanny’s (Ginger’s) house…she told him “that he wasn’t doing it right” and promptly showed him how to really make it sharp. Needless to say, he jumped off the bed with it and stabbed himself in the stomach! When his mom, Tamera, came home she questioned both women how they though teaching him to make a really sharp spear was a good idea? Mamaw never owned up to being a party to this event, but would laugh and laugh when denying it!

We all remember that Mamaw loved music and watched shows like Lawrence Welk, Hee-Haw, The Grand Ole Opry, and The Porter Wagner Show. Dolly Parton and Charlie Rich (she thought he was sexy) were two of her favorite singers. The house was filled with it and the adults were always playing records, dominos, or cards. Mamaw was always busy running the show and most times was in the kitchen with all of the women sat around the table telling stories and laughing about not wanting to sit in the dining room table with the men!

She was reason we all came to visit, the keeper of all of our stories, an amazing woman known for her beautiful smile, her greeting of “howdy do”, and the hug and kiss you’d get the moment you got in the door. She loved us, accepted us, and shaped each and every life she touched. Juanita, Mom, and Mamaw will be missed by all of us that knew and loved her.

Her funeral service will be held in the Chapel of the Chimes at Laurel Land Funeral Home ~ Fort Worth, on Tuesday June 5, 2018. 10:00am (visitation). 11:00am (service and graveside service) with reception following.