Leonard Cox

Longtime Sharon Springs, Kansas resident Leonard E. Cox, 82, died Sunday, October 28, 2012, at Greeley County Hospital in Tribune, Kansas.

He was born June 9, 1930, at Weskan, Kansas, the son of Addie (Knight) and Wilbur E. Cox.  He graduated from high school at Weskan with the class of 1947, and then attended Kansas Wesleyan University, studying music.  He served his country in the United States Navy, playing with the Navy band in Washington D.C. and Great Lakes Naval Training Center. As a member of the Navy Band one of his favorite memories was playing for President Harry Truman on his yacht.

On September 1, 1949, he and Elsie Elizabeth Maki were married at the Methodist Church in Waukegan, Illinois, with his Navy chaplain officiating.
Early in their marriage Leonard had a big band group named “Lenny’s” in the Kansas City area. During his railroad career the family also lived in Des Moines, Iowa and Salt Lake City, Utah settling in Santa Rosa, California and he became a District Sales Manager for M, K & T Railroad in San Francisco, California. While there, he was a member of the Transportation Club of San Francisco, and he was a coach for his children in Little League. In the 1980’s, Leonard and Elsie moved back to the Bay Area in California, where Leonard was vice-president of sales for Budway Trucking. In 1991 Leonard and Elise returned to Sharon Springs, KS.

His memberships include the Sharon Springs United Methodist Church and Rotary Club of Sharon Springs.   Golfing was a favorite hobby.  For the last twelve years, he filled the pulpit of the United Methodist Church in Kanorado, enjoying the people there and the time they had together.
One of Leonard’s fondest activities was playing tuba for the High School Pep Band.

Preceding him in death were his parents; and five brothers Don, Ronnie Delbert, Ralph, and Glen (Billy).
Surviving family includes his wife Elsie Cox of Sharon Springs; son Darrell Cox and his wife Johannah of Lawrence; daughter Jeanne Moffat of Sharon Springs; son Kevin Cox and his wife Jeanne of Colby; eight grandchildren Lindsay Moffat, Kelsey Moffat, Keenan Cox, Dennison Cox, Mallory Cox, Lauren Pritchard and her husband Cuyler, Leah Morales and her husband Brian, and Luke Cox; and sister Betty Schmitt of New Harmony, Indiana; and many beloved nephews, nieces, cousins and other relatives.

The memorial service will be Thursday, November 1, at 10:00 AM MT, at the United Methodist Church in Sharon Springs, with Reverend Keith Anglemyer and Pastor Justin Schlichenmayer officiating.  Inurnment, with military honors, will follow in the Weskan Cemetery.

Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be designated to the Leonard Cox Memorial, and may be left at the service or mailed to Koons Funeral Home, 211  N. Main, Goodland, KS  67735-1555.