James E Cox

James (Jim) Edward Cox passed away peacefully at his home in Hermiston after a valiant, but short battle with pancreatic cancer. Jim was born in Wenatchee, Washington at St. Anthony’s Hospital, on November 9, 1944.  He was the first son of Melvin and Doris Cox.  He attended Whitman Elementary School and H.B. Ellison Jr. High School. He was a star little league pitcher and hitter, played the trumpet in the school band, learned to become an excellent water skier on Lake Chelan and had the largest paper route in Wenatchee.
He moved to Pasco when his father was transferred there in 1959. He enrolled at Pasco Jr. High and played football, basketball and baseball. In the summers he would water ski, play baseball, and work. One summer, too young for a driver’s license, he drove out to a farm in the Basin every morning to change sprinklers with his brother, Dennis. 
    In high school Jim became an outstanding basketball and baseball player. He was a First-Team All-State basketball player his senior year. He continued to play basketball at CBC and was a member of their undefeated team in 1963-64, which was inducted into the NWAC Hall of Fame.  He transferred to the University of Denver with his friend, and star player, Byron Beck to play basketball. 
    He joined the Navy Reserves in 1967 and began working as a switchman for the Northern Pacific Railroad at about the same time. He began active service in the Navy in 1968. He was assigned to the aircraft carrier, USS Ranger, and after boarding the ship at night, he awoke the next morning to what appeared to be the entire Seventh Fleet responding to the Pueblo Crisis. Also during Jim’s tour of duty on the Ranger they completed a full West Pac cruise to Vietnam. Upon his discharge from the navy he returned to Pasco and was hired back by the Burlington Northern Railroad as a switchman. It was at this time that he met Gail Pipes and they were married on April 17, 1971. 
    In the 70’s he played competitive basketball and softball with local teams.  He began to play golf, which like all of his athletic pursuits, he was good at and it became a lifetime hobby.  He also was an avid snow skier. Later in life he and Gail moved to Hermiston, Oregon on a 20 acre farm where they raised cutting horses and grew alfalfa. Jim competed in cutting events throughout the Northwest. He also became a National Cutting Horse Association Director for the state of Oregon.
    Jim is survived by his wife Gail of Hermiston and his son Jason of Portland. His brother Dennis (Becky); mother-in-law, Marguerite Hilgers (Gordon); brother-in-law, Gary Pipes (Cathy), nephew, Jared and niece, Bailey; sister-in-law, Geanette Strosahl (Steve); nephew Bill Cox, great nieces Brittney and Emily, and nephew, Scott Cox (Michelle) and great nieces Angela and Ashley.
    At his request there will be no memorial service. However, there will be a Celebration of Life event to be announced at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s memory may be made to Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation, 7350 W Deschutes Ave, Kennewick, WA 99336 or Vange John Memorial Hospice, 645 W Orchard Ave, Ste. 300, Hermiston, OR 97838.

Please sign the online guest book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com

Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, Oregon is in care of arrangements..  

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