Gary Everett Cox

     Please follow this link for the live broadcast for

 Funeral Service for Gary Cox

     Gary Everett Cox, of Wendell, Idaho, passed away peacefully on the 1st of March, 2025, after a long struggle with congestive heart failure. He was 87 years old and the father of ten children – five sons and five daughters.

     Gary was born in Pocatello, Idaho, on August 20, 1937, to Jordan Everett Cox and Alma Lois McBroom. He knew they loved each other and Gary talked of the great memories of his early growing up years with his mom and dad. He would help his mom in the kitchen baking bread and cinnamon rolls. His favorite childhood memory with his dad was when he became the “Black Misguwala,” who was a tiger that sniffed him out of his hiding places then wrestled him to the floor. After World War II, his parents divorced. 

     Later, his father, Everett, married Ellen Mae Jack. He and his brother, Jan, were now part of a blended family with step siblings, Karen and Jack. Later, a half-sister, Evette joined the family. When he was 9 years old living in Buhl, he started taking piano lessons. When he was 12, his piano teacher began teaching him how to play the organ. Soon after, he was called to play the organ for Sunday School for the Buhl LDS ward. He had many opportunities throughout his life to play the organ in church services. 

The family moved to Wendell in the spring of 1953 when he was a sophomore in high school. There was no space in the 10th grade English class, so he was put into Mrs. Lamb’s 11th grade English class. He sat behind a girl by the name of Joyce Stephenson, who was the Sunday School organist for the Wendell LDS Ward and who had heard he played the piano – so she was welcoming and friendly to him.  They became good friends and attended Brigham Young University together.

     Gary married Joyce on December 13, 1957. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography from Brigham Young University and would later earn a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Upon graduation, he was commissioned into the United State Air Force after completing the Air Force ROTC program in 1958. He started his military career as a fighter pilot in the Air Force which was his lifelong dream. His career took him and his family to Germany and many different stations in the United States. The family were able to move back to Wendell while he was deployed. He fought in the Vietnam War flying the RF4 and worked aboard the C130. He also flew the T33, F100, F105 and T38 jets. Together, Gary and Joyce enjoyed making many lasting friendships and serving others in the military and in their church. He retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Colonel in 1981. He then worked for the University of Alaska as the Associate Dean of the College of Career and Vocational Education until 1994 when he and Joyce began their church mission service.

     He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He served as a teacher and leader in various capacities including scouting, ward organist, and many leadership callings including branch president, bishop, stake president, mission president and temple president. He and his wife served as humanitarian service missionaries in Mongolia from 1994 to 1995 and then returned to Mongolia as Mission President from 1996 to 1999.  They were then asked to serve in South Africa from 2003 to 2004 as Area Welfare Managers, visiting 14 African countries as humanitarian service missionaries.  Shortly after returning home, they were called to return to Alaska where he served as the Temple President of the Anchorage Alaska Temple from 2004 to 2007.  He also served as the Wendell Stake Patriarch and a sealer in the Twin Falls Idaho Temple.

     He was also actively engaged in community service. He volunteered as the director of the Wendell Senior Center for 9 years, was a member of the American Legion and on the Wendell Cemetery Board.

     He was preceded in death by his eternal companion, Joyce Stephenson Cox, his parents, and step-brother, Jack Cox.

     He is survived by his siblings, Jan Cox, Karen Candland, Evette Bigler; and his ten children - Keri Lynn Huntsman (Doug), Jordan R. Cox (Amy), Gary R. Cox (Linda), Lisa Jan Nelson (Dean), Denise Smoot (Scott), Michelle Olsen (Brian), David B. Cox (Christianne), Stephen B. Cox (Rebecca), Paul C. Cox (Laurie), and Lori V. Marsh (Chris); 65 grandchildren and 112 great grandchildren.

     A viewing will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2025 from 6:00-8:00 PM and Friday, March 14th from 9:00-10:45 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Wendell at 605 Idaho Street North.

     The funeral service will be held on Friday, March 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM at the same location.

     Burial will follow at the Wendell Cemetery.

     Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service - Wendell Chapel.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gary Everett Cox, please visit our floral store.