Shirley Cox's Obituary
Shirley Cox
April 14, 1935 – February 15, 2022
Shirley Cox, an avid exercise and movie lover, died Tuesday, February 15th, 2022, at her home in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was 86 years old.
Shirley was born Shirley Worden in 1935 in Detroit, Michigan. Her goal after high school involved moving with her best friend "out West" to live near the Pacific Ocean. Plans changed, and so instead, the gals headed to New York City, where she found the two loves of her life, Dr. Clyde Cox and the city.
While working at an ophthalmologist's office during the day, Shirley was also getting acquainted with the New York music scene. One night Shirley met Clyde, an aspiring jazz trombonist, and three months later, they married at city hall. Their first "pad" was a loft where music and musicians were a constant feature, and the music played late into the night.
While Shirley and the family left New York City in 1967, the city never left Shirley. She returned often and kept in touch with the cultural events and happenings throughout her life. She traveled there frequently with family and friends and loved introducing people to all it offers. Shirley preferred to walk in the city and kept an exhausting pace on those trips. She would attend a Broadway play twice a day while there (unless the theaters were "dark"). Shirley was a true ambassador for New York City.
Shirley was involved in multiple volunteer activities in Jacksonville, AL where she lived for over forty years. In Alabama, she formed important long-term friendships. Shirley spent many winters on Florida's Gulf Coast and enjoyed the beach and sunsets.
After Clyde's passing, Shirley traveled the world touring almost all of Europe, Russia, and Central America. She frequently traveled via ship and made several trans-Atlantic crossings.
She had two annual travel traditions: a winter jazz cruise in the Caribbean and attending the Roger Ebert Film Festival held every April in Champaign, IL. Until 2018, Shirley would drive herself to attend the event from Alabama. She had the record for longest consecutive attendance at Ebertfest as an Elderhostel participant.
Shirley was well known and liked wherever she lived – despite insisting she wasn't "social." She always had an interest in people she met and was known as a "sweet" lady. She was a generous and loving grandmother and enjoyed many travel adventures with her grandchildren.
In addition to her two children, Paul Cox and Dr. Jennifer Cox, Shirley is mourned by her five grandchildren and her son-in-law. Her husband, Clyde, died in 2002.
Shirley died surrounded by her loving children and her constant companion of the last 18 years, Brulee, a Bichon Frise. She maintained a brave and positive attitude towards her diagnosis of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, which robbed her of her motor skills but never her intellect, humor, or personality.
Sincere thanks are due to the patient and caring staff of Legacy Village Sugarhouse and Canyons Hospice, who consistently exceeded all expectations over several hard years. Even in her final years, she was busy forming strong bonds and friendships with the people around her.
She will be dearly missed by all that knew her. In lieu of flowers, the family would love it if, in her memory, you would treat yourself and a friend to a sweet treat. Shirley would recommend a Jamocha Shake, a box of movie candy, or Black Licorice.
What’s your fondest memory of Shirley?
What’s a lesson you learned from Shirley?
Share a story where Shirley's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Shirley you’ll never forget.
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