Carol Cox

Carol Kay Cox, age 62, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, was born to the late Joseph Charles and Beverly Ann (Denton) Chaffee on July 13,1955. She departed this life, Monday, June 13, 2018, at the Kansas City Hospice House surrounded with love and family.

Carol grew up in Oak Grove, Missouri, spending her childhood summers with her horses, and entertaining rodeo crowds throughout the region with her trick riding skills. She spent her falls and winters visiting her G’pa Ted and G’ma Ethel’s barbershop in Raytown, Missouri, sweeping up the hair and talking with customers.  She graduated Oak Grove High School in 1973, a two-time homecoming queen, and was married that same year to the love of her life, Randy Cox.

Carol is survived by her loving husband and best friend, Randy Devon Cox of the home; two sons, James (and Leah) Cox of Pleasant Hill and Joseph (and Jennifer) Cox of Shawnee, Kansas; her one granddaughter and favorite of them all, Poppy Cox of Shawnee; one brother, Phillip Chaffee of Oak Grove; one uncle, Jack Chaffee of Oak Grove; many more close family and friends to numerous to mention.

She would tell you that she enjoyed the “simple life”; a music filled home in the country, with her dogs and cats, surrounded by wildlife, and her hummingbirds, was Carol’s definition. There she raised her sons and made her home a sanctuary for friends and family. The “simple life” was occasionally interrupted with sparks of stardom, like that time she met her idol, Reba McEntire in the Wal-Mart bathroom, where they hummed a duet of “Fancy” together while they washed their hands.

Being simply a housewife was not her only calling. In her thirties, while raising two brilliant and handsome sons and learning to play the guitar, she put herself through college and graduated with honors from Longview University in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.  Soon after she became a teacher’s aide for the special education department of Pleasant Hill Middle School retiring in 2001.  She impacted hundreds of student’s hearts and minds with her relentless kindness and her lenient, but firm, approach to discipline.

Cremation has been accorded.

Private services and interment were held in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the ASPCA and may be sent in care of funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent in care of the funeral home at www.stanleydickeyfuneralhome.com

Stanley-Dickey Funeral Home, 203 N. Armstrong, Pleasant Hill, Missouri 64080 (816) 540-5550