Roger Cox

Roger Dee Cox, 74, of Idaho Falls, passed away on September 6, 2012 at Lily and Syringa Assisted Living Center. He was born May 26, 1938, in Idaho Falls, Idaho to Clinton Harrison Cox and Norma Conrad Cox. He grew up in the Idaho Falls area and attended Iona Elementary and Bonneville High School. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and as a young man served a mission to the Central States Mission. He attended Brigham Young University, where he graduated with his degree in Political Science in 1964. He continued on to law school at George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. where he received his Juris Doctor Degree in 1967. He married Shirley Nissen on November 24, 1961. They were later divorced. On June 4, 1977, he married Patricia E. Jordan in Idaho Falls. They made their home in the Idaho Falls and Shelley areas. Roger was admitted in 1967 to the Idaho and U.S. District Court, District of Idaho; admitted in 1972 to the U.S. Supreme Court; admitted in 1976 to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; and admitted in 1977 to the U.S. Tax Court. He was a member of the American Bar Association, Idaho Trial Lawyers Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, and Federal Bar Association. Roger was appointed to the State Job Training Coordinating Council by Governor John V. Evans. He also served on the Seventh District Fee Arbitration Panel, and the Seventh Judicial District Bar Association Court Relations (Bench & Bar) Committee. He was Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Bonneville County. Also, Attorney for the Office of General Counsel, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts in Washington D.C. While in Washington D.C., he worked as a lobbyist for General Mills. In 1969, he returned to Idaho Falls to pursue the private practice of law. In 1978, Roger and John “Mick” Ohman opened their law practice and were later joined by Dean Brandstetter to form the law firm of Cox Ohman & Brandstetter, where he worked until his retirement in 2007. In 1989, Roger and his family built a cabin at Star Valley Ranch, Wyoming, where he spent many weekends snowmobiling and hunting with them. He also served nine years on the Board of Directors for the Star Valley Ranch Association. Roger enjoyed family, flying, snowmobiling, 4-wheeling, hunting, camping, and restoring John Deere tractors. Survivors are: Wife: Pat Cox, Idaho Falls, ID; Daughters: Desiree (Tyghe) Briggs, Shelley, ID; Daughter: Danielle (Jake) Collins, Shelley, ID; Daughter: Kristin Cox, Idaho Falls, ID; Son: Col. Anthony (Kristine) Cox, San Antonio, TX; Daughter: Cathryn (Matt) Jenkins, Huntsville, UT; Son: Michael (Becky) Cox, Provo, UT; Son: Dale (Michelle) Deveraux, Fresno, CA; Brother: Gary (Elsa) Cox, Vernal, UT; Brother: Harrison (Teresa) Cox, Vernal, UT; Brother: Byard (Shirley) Cox, Iona, ID; Sister: Bonnie (Larry) Clayton, Idaho Falls, ID; Sister: Ginger (Bruce) Birch, Fruitland, ID; Sister: Pauline McFarlane, Shelley, ID; 17 grandchildren He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Michelle Cox; and a brother, Dr. Conrad Cox. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 11, 2012, at the Jameston - Taylor LDS Ward Building (1101 East 1250 North, Shelley, ID) with Bishop Byard Cox, officiating. The family will visit with friends on Monday from 7-8:30 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home (273 N. Ridge) and on Tuesday from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to the services at the church. Burial will be in Taylor Cemetery under the direction of Wood Funeral Home.