Rena May Denny Cox

Rena Denny Cox lived a good life for 95 years. Rena grew up in Southern Oregon, born near Milo in
her grandmother Furlong's home on July 26th. She liked to tell the story that she was delivered by a
veterinarian. She was the daughter of John F. and Maryann Denny; a decedent of the same Denny family that settled Seattle and founded the University of Washington of which she was very proud. At the time of her death, Rena was the eldest member of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians and was extremely proud of her part in the re-recognition of this tribe in 1982. As a descendent of Susan Nonta Thomason, Rena's family is one of the seven original families making up the tribe. After the tribe's re-recognition,Rena loved attending the annual Pow Wow at the South Umpqua Falls.

At a local dance Rena met and eventually married Noy Cox in 1936 where Noy was a member of the CCC maintenance crew working in Southwestern Oregon. In 1948 Rena and Noy relocated to Union where they spent the remainder of their lives and were well known in the community. Some of the things Rena enjoyed doing were feeding family and friends, working at Hot Lake Sanitarium as a nurse's aide, and learning to bowl. In later years, reading and traveling took up a large part of her time.

Survivors include her sons Dorian and his wife Georgia of Union; Thomas and his wife Peggy of
Roseburg, and John and his wife Judy of Richland, Washington; and one daughter, Wanda and her husband Tork of Baker City. Survivors also include ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Rena was preceded in death by her husband Noy, their infant daughter Donnas Mary and her brother, John Denny.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, December 20th at 11:00 am at Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande, Oregon.

Those who wish may download the obituary and sign the on-line guest book at www.danielsknopp.com. Memorials may be made In her name to the Bobcat Foundation P.O. Box 91 Union, OR 97883 or the Union Fire Department, Toys for Tots, P. O. Box 708,Union, OR 97883.

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