Margarite Ann Cox, known to friends and family as “Ann”, passed away at the age of 85 in Granbury, Texas on Wednesday, July 27, 2022.
Funeral Service: 11AM Monday, August 1 at Lake Shore Funeral Home. A reception will follow the service in the funeral home’s Reception Center. A private burial for the family will follow the reception at Mt. Calm Cemetery.
Ann was born November 3, 1936, in Waco, Texas, the oldest of four daughters born to Harold Ernest “Jack” McCollum and his wife Marguerite Wallace McCollum.
Ann spent her youth in Huntsville, Texas and graduated from high school there, then began her college studies at Baylor University where she took special pleasure in her theater classes. Ann went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University in 1958 and a master’s degree in Educational Counseling from Texas A&M University.
Mrs. Cox carried out a lifelong commitment to improving the lives for individuals whose opportunities she felt were being limited or denied. She pursued this personal mission during her employment as a counselor at the women’s prison in Huntsville, as a counselor and advisor to students on the Waco campus of Texas State Technical Institute (now Texas State Technical College), and later as part of the higher administration of the TSTC system.
While Ann delighted in the solitary pursuits of the daily crossword puzzle and voracious reading, particularly of mysteries, she was a social woman as well. She was a former member of the Altrusa Club of Waco, and a longtime member of Waco’s Newcomers and Neighbors. After she joined her husband n retirement at their home in Axtell, Texas, she involved herself in a book club, several bridge clubs and a birthday club. Due to failing health she had recently moved into an assisted living facility in Granbury, Texas.
At the time of her death, Bill and Ann Cox were members of the Central United Methodist Church of Waco.
Ann Cox is survived by her husband of 45 years, Dr. William H. “Bill” Cox. She is also survived by her three daughters: Pamela Pardue Sharp, her husband Bill and their son John; Margarite Pardue Anderson and her daughters Laura Anderson and Libby Anderson Rhoades, Libby’s husband Taylor and their daughter Gentry; and Sharon Pardue Jandrain and her sons Samuel and Luke Jandrain and Luke’s wife Audria. She is survived by four stepchildren, Elizabeth Cox Wayland, Bob Cox and his wife Sandy, Richard Cox and his wife Cheryl, Kathleen Cox Gilmore and her husband Greg, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren within those families. She is survived by two of her three sisters, Penne McCollum Mathews and her husband Mike, and Marilyn McCollum Scheffe and her husband Dennis, was preceded in death by her sister Rochelle McCollum Farris, but is survived by her brother-in-law Maxia Farris, and is survived by the nephews and niece and great-nephews and great-nieces who are continuing to grow and spread the family.
By family, friends, and those people who benefitted from her determination to make any place in which she remained a better place than when she’d arrived, Ann will be deeply missed.
Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home Chapel , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708
Print Obituary & Condolences
My beautiful sister, Ann, will be deeply missed. She was my sister, my friend and my advisor. We had so many wonderful conversations filled with laughter! Ann was an intelligent woman that loved her family and would fiercely defend them from any hurt or danger. She loved life and used her energy trying to help those less fortunate by helping them help themselves. She loved Halloween and everyone including her grandchildren could hardly wait to see the newest decoration and the rearrangements of all the past decorations. They were definitely impressive!!
Ann was an avid bridge player and very competitive. She was a whiz at solving crosswords. She was a reader of mysteries which she would usually solve before she completed the book!!
I love you Ann. You will be missed each and everyday. ❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏
Well done! Aunt Ann was one of kind and will be missed.
Goodby to wonderful, sweet Ann. I knew Ann when I worked at TSTI-System during the 1980s. and what an adventurer and dear lady she was! She had such a love for people and her laughter could fill a room with joy. I am so very blessed to have known her and to have considered her a friend. I extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends as they cope with their loss. God’s blessings to each of you.
I met Ann when I joined Waco Newcomers and Neighbors and began playing bridge at the Mexican restaurant. This was before the Covid pandemic. I always commented on the pretty jewelry she wore with her nice attire. I was glad to see her at bridge a couple of times, later at the Stillwell location, before her move.
I know this is a sad loss for her family.
Please accept my sympathy.
Sincerely,
Diana Bradley
Aunt Ann
You always were nice and kind. You always cared about others. You were always a great sister to my mother, Rochelle and Penne and a fabulous mother to my cousins. I will certainly miss you as you were a great Aunt to me.
Sincere condolences to the family, especially to Sharon- one of my sister’s best friends- and to Margarite, my classmate through the school years at Connally ISD in Waco.
Steven Ware and Family
I had the opportunity to work with Ann and Jim Bird at TSTI-System in the ’70s and early ’80s. I was always inspired by her as she would calmly tackle any issue. She had such a sweet presence and loved her family dearly. Bill and family, I’m so very sorry for the loss of Ann. Praying for God’s comfort.
Felecia McAnally (formerly Parnell)
Always enjoyed playing bridge with her – and visiting when she came to a N&N luncheon. It has been some time since I saw her. My prayers are with your family.
Sharon and I are work colleagues and book club sisters. Not the real book club of the past 25+ years (that I heard many stories about and met a few of the members) but a small upstart group created during the pandemic to get us through. Sharon is a wonderful book club member, a great co-worker and a beautiful woman inside and out! After reading the obituary about Ann, and the condolences above, the saying “Like mother, like daughter” and “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” both come to mind. Ann left a wonderful legacy and large family for the world to enjoy.
My prayers and thoughts are with the entire family.