Cox, Royce Norris 1876-1964

COX, DONAHUE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 9/28/2014 at 12:08:10

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
Thurs., June 11, 1964

ROYCE NORRIS COX

Royce Norris Cox was born December 23, 1876, at Atlantic, Iowa. He was the son of Francis and Sarah Cox. The family moved to Des Moines where he spent his early boyhood years. His father was roadmaster for the Rock Island Railroad for many years. Later the family moved to a farm near Adair, where Royce farmed with his father.

As a young man he had railroading in mind and left the farm to railroad out of Horton, Kansas, for two years, as a fireman. Shortly afterward he went firing for the Rock Island between Des Moines and Council Bluffs. He was promoted to locomotive engineer in 1912.

Mr. Cox retired as an engineer of the Rock Island on December 24, 1941. He was a member of the First Methodist church of Grinnell and a member of Gnemeth Lodge No. 577 of the Masonic Order and had been a member of this Order for 64 years.

Royce met and married Myra Edith Donahue at Council Bluffs, Iowa, June 6, 1906. To them were born three sons: Francis of Grinnell, Iowa; Ralph of McKinney, Texas; and Royce, Jr. of Lewiston, Idaho.

Mr. Cox died of a sudden heart attack at Royce Jr.'s of Lewiston where he had gone to spend the summer visiting his sister, Fannie of Spokane, and youngest son. He was preceded in death by his wife, Myra, who passed away November 3, 1962. For the past two years he had made his home in Grinnell with his eldest son, Francis.

In addition to his three sons, he leaves six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The body will be interred in the family plot in City Cemetery, Atlantic, Iowa.