Clarence C. Cox was born October 31, 1893 in Grassy Precinct, the son of Thomas A. Cox and Nancy Catherine Rendleman and moved to Marion with his parents when eight years old.
Clarence Cox was always active in athletics. He graduated from the Marion Township High School in 1913 and while in high school captained both the championship track team and football team.
In 1918, he graduated from James Milikin University of Decatur, where he captained their track team for two years and was selected for the all-star college conference football team. He was a member of the Kappa Delta Chi fraternity and its president his senior year.
While in high school as well as college he was active in all affairs. He was president of his senior class in college and active in the social service work of the college Y.M.C.A. As an example of his athletic prowess in the collegiate track meet in Jacksonville in 1916 he was the final runner in the relay team that broke the state record, he won first in the 200 yard dash, second in the 100 yard dash and was third in the pole vault.
Leaving school his senior year, he entered the army and had just been commissioned at an army reserve officer’s school in Georgia when the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918.
After the war, Clarence coached athletics for two years at Barbeton, Ohio, and was a member of the Goodyear Rubber company’s Industrial track team, but gave up the coaching work in 1920 to return to Marion to purchase an interest in the Cox Hardware and Furniture Company and become associated with his brother, Harry L. Cox in its management. Through keen business ability and a willingness to meet the buying desires of the community, Clarence and his brother more than doubled the size of their store and greatly extended its service.
On June 28, 1922, Clarence Cox and Miss Maree Trevor were united in marriage by a Baptist minister in Murphysboro and they had two children, Trevor and Gordon Cox.
Clarence found time from his business activities to take part in civic affairs as well. He was a member of the Masons, a member of the High School Board for a great many years and was a charter member of the Marion Rotary Club in March 1923, serving as their President in 1927-28.
One of his pet plans, while Rotary President, was to extend the club’s scope so as to serve the young people of Marion and he was instrumental in organization of the Teenarians, a club of boys formed with Rotarian principles, among students of the Marion Township High School. He was a member of the Baptist Church.
Clarence, still in the prime of his life, as had been his custom for many months played a game of golf Sunday afternoon, July 11, 1937, with his wife and few friends. During the game he told his wife, he was not feeling very well and believed he would go on home and told her not to come with him as he would be alright. She finished her game and drove back home with Mr. and Mrs. Sam Dunaway.
Reaching home, Mrs. Eliza Tyner, who had been staying with the two Cox boys, said Clarence was asleep, but Mrs. Cox discovered it was the sleep from which no one awakens. He had not been sick, nor complained of any illness, making the shock all the more severe.
His death on Sunday July 11th 1937 was at the age of 43 years, 9 months and 20 days.
His father and mother preceded him in death, as did two sisters; Mrs. Anna Clayton of Johnston City and Mrs. Minnie Young of Mount Vernon, but two brothers, T. William Cox of Kansas City and Harry L. Cox of Marion survive as well as his wife, Maree, and two sons Trevor and Gordon Cox.
Miss Eva Young of Chicago received word of the death in time to catch a train for Marion Sunday night and arrived in Marion early Monday morning. Mrs. Ora Trevor, mother of Mrs. Cox, who was visiting in New York with her daughter, is enroute to Marion with her daughter, Mrs. Louise Grady, and husband Paul Brady from Bronxville, New York and are expected Tuesday.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. at the Cox home, 512 S. Market Street by Rev. Muir, a close friend of both Mr. and Mrs. Cox.
Evidence of Clarence’s popularity was evidenced by the number of people attending his funeral, which numbered in the hundreds. There were business associates, members of the American Legion, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Masons, school teachers, high school students, old friends, family members and associates.
Interment followed at Rosehill Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Dr. J.W. Ferguson, Dr. Ralph Burkhart, Ben LaMaster of Rockford, F.E. Powell, Marvin Leachman of Evansville and Martin Murphy of St. Louis.
A coroner’s jury at an inquest held by Coroner L.W. Gasaway at the Cash Funeral Home Monday returned a verdict that death was due to unknown cause. Dr. H.A. Felts, who was summoned to the Cox home Sunday evening testified he was of the opinion that death was due to a heart attack caused by heat exhaustion.
Members of the coroner’s jury were O.A. Keas, C.O. Moss, M.S. Hartwell, Robert L. Pulley, Harold Pangborn, and W.A. Pillow.
(Extracted from the Marion Daily Republican, June 12, 1937)