Ronnie Gayle Cox

Ronnie Gayle Cox, 71, of Florence, passed away at his home on Saturday, May 4, 2024. He was born in Superior, AZ on February 12, 1953.

 He grew up in Superior with his two brothers Thomas Lavelle and James Douglas and his mother Essie Earline Dodge and his step father Orin Foutz. Ronnie played basketball for the Panther’s high school team.

He left his hometown in 1971 to serve in the United States Navy and received an honorable discharge. While on ship, a crew mate arranged for a young west Texas woman to write a letter to him. He received her first letter on April Fool’s Day 1974. After a brief courtship he flew to west Texas and he married Venita Teague in Lamesa, TX on October 18, 1974. Venita says she was his mail-order bride. They were married 5 months shy of 50 years. Ronnie and Venita had three children. Their middle daughter passed away at the age of 3. They lived many years in Texas and finally settled on “The Ranch” south of Florence, AZ in 1993.

Mr. Cox worked as a heavy equipment mechanic and an over-the-road(long-haul) truck driver.

Ronnie was a Christian and raised his young family in the Baptist church.

Throughout his life Mr. Cox was a devoted husband, father and later papa. He lived a life full of adventure and people. He was very outgoing and never knew a stranger. He would jump to the occasion to help out his friends, neighbors or family. He was a give-you-the-shirt-off-his-back kind of man.

He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, boating, tubing, gardening, shoveling dirt, building things with his hands, playing cards and cooking. He included his family and especially his grandkids in his adventures and projects.

He also enjoyed traveling and after his retirement he purchased a truck and fifth wheel camper and he and his wife became “Sun Birds” and spent the summers in the cool mining town of Ely, NV near his son and his family.

Mr. Cox loved to take their camper and spend time in historic Tombstone, AZ several times a year. They have persuaded many friends and family over the years to join them in the fun and dress up for the annual Tombstone Christmas Ball.

Mr. Cox is preceded in death by his daughter, Pamela Leighann Cox; father, Howard Douglas Cox; step-father, Orin Foutz;  mother, Essie Earline Dodge; older brother, Thomas Lavelle Cox; and younger brother, James Douglas Cox.

Mr. Cox is survived by his wife, Venita Cox; daughter, Cherish (Rustin) Medlock; son, Kyle (Kandy) Cox; sister-in-law, Linda Cox; grandchildren, Gabriel, Shelby and Tanner Cox, Jesse and Trenton Medlock.

A Celebration of Life and Military Honors will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 9, 2024 at Brown Road Baptist Church, 4801 E Brown Road, Mesa, AZ with Pastor Alan Thompson officiating. A time for fellowship will follow the service.