Douglas Charles Cox

Douglas Charles Cox died of complications due to cancer on November 8, 2007. He was born on July 24, 1944, in Pocatello, Idaho, to his parents, Edwin (Ted) Charles and Mary LaVerle Cox. He grew up in Cedar City, Utah, and spent his boyhood fishing, hunting, and roaming the hills with his cousins and siblings. Doug loved nature and especially enjoyed sharing that love with others. At Brigham Young University, he studied biology, anatomy, and herpetology, earning a PhD in zoology. He met and courted his wife, Anne Bischoff, while in college. They were married in the Logan, Utah Temple on June 27, 1969, and made their home in Orem.

His life was distinguished by service. Doug served as an LDS missionary in the Australian mission. He served his country in Vietnam, saving many lives as a surgical technician in a MASH unit. A devoted husband, he constantly served his wife Anne. He was also a great father, and his six children often heard him say that his true career was being the best husband and father possible, and that everything else he did in life allowed him to fulfill that career. He was blessed to enjoy his job at BYU, where he served for 28 years as the Assistant Director of the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum. Through his work there he influenced the lives of innumerable schoolchildren, university students and faculty. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in many capacities, including being Bishop three times. He always enjoyed sharing his testimony with those he served.

He is survived by his wife Anne; his 6 children: Robert (Cynthia), Kenneth (Jennifer), Jonathan, Melissa, Jenny Jo, and Trevor (currently an LDS missionary in Guatemala); and 5 grandchildren (Elizabeth, Nathan, Lillie, Samuel and Andrew). He is also survived by 4 siblings, Sandra Lewis (Max), Kathy Jensen (James), Barbra Hoag (James), and Richard (Andrea). Douglas was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin (Ted) Charles and Mary LaVerle Cox.

Funeral services will be held Monday, November 12, 2007, at 11 a.m. in the Sharon Park 2nd Ward Chapel, 225 East 200 North, Orem. Family and friends may visit Sunday evening from 6-8 p.m. in the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem and from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Monday prior to the services at the church. Interment will be held in the Orem City Cemetery with full military rites