Harley Cox Jr.

Harley Cox Jr., 86, of Pine Bluff, died peacefully at his home on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. Survivors include his wife, Joanne Smith Cox; daughters, Karen Cox Raley (Phillip), also of Pine Bluff, Susan Cox of Mount Pleasant, S.C., and Leslie Cox May (Phillip) of Little Rock; stepdaughter, Jana Smith Rentzel (Chris) of Dallas, Texas; stepsons, Jeff G. Smith (Pam) of Fort Davis, Texas, and Ed H. Smith (Melinda) of Little Rock; grandchildren, Andrea Raley Avery of Knoxville, Tenn., Colin Dolan of Washington D.C., Jack Dolan of Columbia, S.C., Travis May of North Little Rock, Morgan May and Grace Quinn of Little Rock; great-grandchildren, Mary Raley Avery, Parker Reese May, and Hallie and Ella Lawson and sister, Elizabeth Jane (Betty) Barrow of Helena. Harley was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Mary Lou Thomas Cox and his parents, Ernest Harley Cox and Margaret Eunice Futrell Cox. Born Ernest Harley Cox Jr. on Sept. 23, 1930 in Fulton, he was raised in Prescott, he graduated from Prescott High School in 1948. He attended the University of Arkansas, graduating from the School of Law in 1953. At the University, Harley was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, serving as Grandmaster in 1952. Following graduation, Harley served as a first lieutenant in the US Air Force Judge Advocates Corp from 1953 until 1955. Upon discharge, he attended Columbia University School of Law in New York, graduating with a juris doctorate in 1956. Harley practiced law with the firm of Coleman, Gantt, Ramsay and Cox (now Ramsay, Bridgforth, Robinson and Raley) in Pine Bluff from 1956 until 1990. Dedicated to his community, Harley was a past president of the United Way of Jefferson County, Fifty for the Future of Pine Bluff, the Pine Bluff Chamber of Commerce, the Arkansas Bar Association and the Arkansas Institute of Continuing Legal Education. He was also a past chair of the Board of Visitors of the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. A life-long Methodist, Harley was a member of First United Methodist Church in Pine Bluff from 1956 until his death. He was a former member of the church's Administrative Board and a Sunday School teacher for over 25 years. Harley, known lovingly by his grandchildren as "Honey," was devoted to his family and adored by "his girls." A lifelong student of western history, he frequently regaled family and friends with stories of WWII and growing up in "metropolitan" Fulton in the 1930s. His joie de vivre and sparkling enthusiasm will live forever in the hearts of his family and the cherished friends he held in high esteem. The memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016 at First United Methodist Church in Pine Bluff. A visitation will be held at his home in Pine Bluff on Monday from 5-7 p.m. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Pine Bluff or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in Little Rock. Arrangements were handled by Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors (online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com).