Kaye Bruce Cox was born into the world on June 22, 1934 and passed from this life on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024.
Kaye was the first child born to Frederick Harris Cox, a fireman and policeman, and Catherine Pett Cox, a nurse, in Pocatello, Idaho. He grew up in a small town surrounded by extended family and friends. He would often reminisce about growing up very near to the wilderness of Idaho and Wyoming, going fishing and working on the railroad in icebox cars with his brother, Jack. Kaye graduated from Pocatello High School in 1952, and then enlisted in the Army. He served during the Korean War stationed in Tokyo, Japan for two years. The Army remained a very important and cherished part of Kaye’s life. He remained active in the Army Reserves. When he retired from the Army in 1991, he was a full Colonel and commander of the 330th MASH unit out of Memphis, Tennessee.
Following his return to the States after the Korean War, he served as a missionary to Uruguay for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for two and a half years, becoming fluent in Spanish. After his mission, he attended Brigham Young University graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in 1962 and a Master’s Degree in Entomology in 1965. In 1966, he began his doctorial studies at the University of Puerto Rico Medical School in San Juan, obtaining his Ph.D. in Microbiology. His first job after graduating was as a microbiologist at Bellevue Hospital in New
York City, where he earned the certification of Diplomate of American Board of Medical Microbiology. In 1976, he became the Assistant Lab Director at Helen Keller Hospital in
Sheffield, Alabama; a position he held until 1986. He then became the Lab Director of the
Memphis and Shelby County Health Department, a position he held until his retirement in 1998.
Kaye was preceded in death by his father, Frederick Harris Cox, his mother, Catherine Pett Cox, his brother, Jack Arvil Cox, and his wife, Dolores Aldridge Cox. He is survived by his daughter, Susan Christine Ward (Kirk) and grandchildren Spencer Joseph Ward, Josh Taylor Ward, Kaylee Christine Ward, and Jacob Ellis Ward; daughter Elizabeth Hinson (Jeff) and grandchildren Ashley
Elizabeth Peck (Caleb Yonotti) and Kaitlyn Nicole Mobley (RJ); daughter Sarah Kathleen Hicks
(John) and grandchildren Lily Catherine Hicks and Emma Clayton Hicks; and son Jeremy Bruce Cox and grandchildren Thatcher Marshall Cox, Camden Jack Cox, Tanner Michael McDaniel and Jason Mikel McDaniel. He is also survived by stepdaughter Julie Clark and grandchildren Ariana Rain Harris and Terin Dekota Harris.
The family would like to express their appreciation for all the professionals who provided such wonderful care to Kaye over the past nine years: Dr. Lango and all the staff at TVCC, all the staff at Keestone of Florence where Kaye resided from 2015 until 2022, and all the staff at Keestone of Lawrenceburg, where Kaye resided from 2022 until his passing. The compassion, love and attention that all of you provided to Kaye is something the family will be forever grateful for.
A graveside service is planned for Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Greenview Memorial Park. Greenview Funeral Home is assisting the family.
