Robert Cox

Robert "Bud" Cox, 85, of North Powder died Feb. 17, at his home.

A graveside service will be held Friday, May 1 at 2 p.m. at the North Powder Cemetery. A reception will follow at the North Powder Grange.

Bud was born Oct. 15, 1923, to James Cox and Florence VanAlstine Cox in Winter, Wis.

In 1936, the Cox family moved to the Klamath Falls area. In 1942, Bud enlisted in the Marines during World War II and was a marksman and mortar crewman. He was wounded July 3, 1944, in Saipan and was awarded the Purple Heart. He received an honorable discharge on April 17, 1945.

Bud's occupation was operating heavy equipment. He was a member of the Local 701 Operating Engineers and worked all over the state. He came to North Powder in 1971 during construction of the interstate highway and decided to make his home there. He met and fell in love with Marilyn Montgomery, and they were blessed to be together for 36 years.

Bud was an outdoorsy kind of guy and loved camping, fishing, hunting or just getting out for a leisurely drive along the countryside or in the mountains to take in the scenery and wildlife.

He also enjoyed playing country music on his guitar, reading the newspaper nightly and working on crossword puzzles.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Cox of North Powder and her daughter, Sherry Jensen-Rudolph and her husband Tony of Baker City; son, Karl "Skip" Cox of Ketchikan, Alaska; daughter, Judy Larsen of Taylorsville, Utah; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters.

Memorial contributions may be made to the North Powder Grange and/or Pathway Hospice in care of Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City 97814.

.