BILLINGSS GAZETTE
Sunday, April 4, 2004
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Cox, Karen Marie
A pair of
smiling eyes has closed for good. These eyes watched over her
own children and hundreds of her students. Karen Marie Cox died in a
tragic car accident on Thursday, April 1, 2004. She had worked as an elementary
teacher in
Karen Marie
was born in
She married
Philip Cox on June 24, 1972. They had two children, Andrea Marie and Jared
Philip.
Karen
started her teaching career at Ponderosa Elementary as a teacher's aide and
then went back for her elementary certification. She taught at Ponderosa and
there met many good friends like Juline Kosmicki and Linda Bayne. This web of friendships grew and
grew as she taught at Sandstone, Big Sky and
Karen loved
the outdoors, whether gardening, hiking, biking, skiing, or taking walks. As a
child growing up on a ranch with three "rowdy" brothers, Karen
learned to be tough. She delighted in rough-housing and competing with her
brothers using "Krueger Rules". She was even known to crash Phil's
brothers' weekends at
As an adult,
Karen insisted on bringing nature into her backyard. She talked Phil (or Fritz
as she called him) into building a pond, an endeavor that sparked vigorous
arguments. Karen also enjoyed introducing her students to nature through the
cockroaches, frogs and lizards in her classroom.
Karen's
energy was contagious and unstoppable; she was a real pied piper. She could
talk anybody into almost anything. Once she took a stand, she would see it
through to the end. She was a fiery and energetic woman; her students learned
quickly that she meant business. When students asked why they had to do
something, Karen would respond with a laugh and a glare, "Because I can
make your life miserable" She believed the biggest gift she could give her
students was the ability to think. She believed an education was the key to any
door.
Karen was
passionate about her work with the Teachers Association. She served on the
Karen lived
what she believed. She and Phil attended Good Shepherd since 1971 where she
lead the fourth, fifth and sixth grade Sunday School opening.
Church was a large part of her life, yet she showed her faith not only in
church but in her whole life. She loved going to Good Shepherd and seeing her
church family, watching the children grow up and having children of her own.
Karen also
was devoted to her family. She loved to have people to the house, even if there
wasn't enough room for everyone. "They'll just stand," she would say.
Karen always made the family take a group picture anytime they were gathered
together, whether they wanted to or not. Her family extended beyond just the
immediate relatives and included many close friends.
Karen died
doing what she loved: seeing the country, being with friends and working to
improve education.
She is
survived by her husband of 31 years, Phil Cox; daughter, Andrea Cox Christen,
(Nick) of Farmington, Minn., and son, Jared Cox, of Billings; parents, Mary and
Jack Krueger, of Columbus; brothers, Jack Krueger (Kim) and Dave Krueger
(Angela) both of Columbus, and Paul Krueger (Carol) of Miles City; in-laws,
Sherry Zimmerman (Dwayne), Ron Folkerts (Janet), Dan Folkerts (Deb), Jan "A.J." Cline (Curt), Rick Folkerts (Tami) all of Billings, Gary Cox (Judy) of Ray, N.
D. and Bob Cox (Cathy) of Austin, Texas; numerous nieces and nephews;
great-nieces and nephews; multitudes of cousins; current and former students;
fellow teachers and others involved in education throughout Billings and
Montana; her special teaching buddy of 12 years, Charlie Bokum;
long-time friends, Cynthia and Loren Gustafson of Helena; and her quilting
buddies, Carol Blackwell and Kathy Kelker; Sunday
School kids she has harassed, teased and whose names she always forgot; and all
the many lives she has touched in ways we are yet to learn.
A
Celebration of Life service will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, at the
Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary is in charge of
arrangements.
Published in the
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