Louella Cox

Cox, Louella Barnes, 88, passed from this life on Sunday, January 13, 2008. Louella was born on December 22, 1919 in Muskogee, OK to Samuel and Josie Ella (Thomas) Cobb. Louella lived a long life and took a big bite out of it. Her memories include the "Grapes of Wrath" era when her family traveled west to pick cotton. They lived in a tent and one of her fond memories was cooking a birthday cake in a Dutch Oven on coals from the campfire. She was so full of life. She told stories of her early marriage when their heat and cooking was on an old wood burning stove.. She talked of getting up in the middle of the night, and building a fire in the stove just to make homemade candy. She loved her family and fishing. Her home was adorned with pictures of both. Some of her favorite fishing trips were to Galveston, TX and Roaring River, MO. After managing the Candy Department at Sears, she retired and became the President of the Sears Retirement Group. Church was important to her. She and husband Paul organized the first food bank at her church and they were responsible for gathering the food to supply the bank for many years. She loved to travel and loved cruises. She enjoyed an Alaska cruise but also loved cruises in the Caribbean. She explored almost every island from St. Johns, to Barbados. One of her favorite cruises was a honeymoon cruise with her son, his new bride, Louella's daughter Nancy and son in law Steve. The expression "Too many bananas Mon" was heard often. This motley crew got lost in Barbados. Typical of a Louella deal, it became a great adventure. I have a feeling that by now, Louella is in a new wonderful place organizing some great adventures. Louella was preceded in death by husbands, William Barnes and Paul Cox and a grandchild. She is survived by a daughter, Nancy Ferguson, of Highland Village, TX and a son, Jack Barnes, of Haskell, OK; 4 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, 1 great great-granddaughter and raised two special nephews, Roy Gene Barnes and Robert Leland Barnes. Service 10:00 A.M. Wednesday Ninde Brookside Chapel with interment Rose Hill Cemetery. Ninde Brookside Chapel, 918-742-5556.