Cox, Mary D. 1853-1940

COX, DRYDEN, BURD, PRESTON, TALBOTT, MASON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/9/2011 at 09:45:38

The Grinnell Herald-Register; Feb. 13, 1940

"MOTHER" COX REACHES END OF LONG LIFE

Beloved Grinnell Woman Passes Away Aged 86 Years.

Mrs. Mary D. Cox, known and loved as "Mother" Cox by a wide circle of friends, reached the end of a long life at 1 o'clock Tuesday night. She had passed the age of 86 years on her last birthday, Oct. 2, and until her last illness assailed her a few months ago, had retained the use of her faculties to a marked degree and was able to take part in activities usually associated with much younger women.

Funeral services were held from the home of her daughter, Mrs. Jack Preston at 2:00 o'clock this afternoon, conducted by her pastor, Rev. Leland W. Mann, of the Congregational church. Burial was made in Hazelwood cemetery, beside the body of her husband, who died Dec. 22, 1899. Pallbearers were T.J. Rinehart, J.L. Fellows, C.K. Needham, John Manly, Sharp Lannom, III, and Frederic Ramsey.

Mary D. Dryden was born in Hillsboro, Ohio, in 1853, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Dryden. The family moved to Iowa when she was five years old, following the death of her mother, and made their home in Oskaloosa. On May 28, 1874, she was united in marriage with E.B. Cox. In 1881 Mr. and Mrs. Cox moved from Lynnville to Grinnell, which was to be her home for the rest of her life.

Mrs. Cox is survived by one son, D.M. Cox of Grinnell, and two daughters, Mrs. Hallie C. Burd of Baldwin Park, Calif., and Ola, Mrs. Jack Preston, of this city; also by one sister, Mrs. Ida Talbott, of Joplin, Mo., a grandson, Branson Burd, of Baldwin Park, a granddaughter, Mrs. Charles H. Mason, of Fremont, Neb., and a great granddaughter, Mary Susan Mason. One daughter, Eldora, died when she was seven years old.

Mrs. Burd was unable to come for the funeral, since she is very ill in the hospital of Dr. Jesse Burlew at Santa Ana, of pneumonia, following a broken hip which she received in a fall a few days ago.

Mrs. Cox was a member of the Congregational church. She had been a member of the Priscilla club for upwards of 45 years, joining it the second year following its organization and during her vigorous days took an active part in other organizations.