Obituaries

Claudette Owen Cox

Photo of Claudette Owen Cox
Claudette Owen Cox, age 71, of Malvern, died Monday, July 15, 2013 in the Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock. She was born in Pine Bluff on July 1, 1942 to the late William Glenn Owen Sr. and Hazel Bobbitt Owen. Reared and receiving her early education in Pine Bluff, she graduated with the PBHS Class of 1960. After attending Baylor University for a year, she enrolled in the Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Little Rock, graduating in 1965. Moving back to Pine Bluff, she worked at Jefferson Regional in the nursery and pediatrics for two years. In 1967 she came to Malvern and became Director of Nursing at Hot Spring County Medical Center, where she worked for nine years. Claudette was hired by Baptist Medical Center and went on to be Nurse Supervisor over a 45 bed major surgical unit. During this time she managed to graduate from Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri, with a bachelor's degree in Health Care Management. She retired from Baptist in 1999. An active member of First United Methodist Church, Malvern, she served in many facets, including United Methodist Women (executive board), Administrative Board, and as Mission/Disaster Coordinator. She was involved in the United Way of Hot Spring County, served on the board of Harvest of Hope, was past president of Hot Spring County Master Gardeners, served twice as president of P.E.O. Chapter BC, was a patron of the Boyle House Museum, and played an integral part in putting on the Community Thanksgiving and Christmas Meals. She is survived by her husband, Wilburn Cox, to whom she was married on April 26, 1991; by her grandchildren, Patrick Schrepel (Amanda), Joanna Sanders, and Jason Schrepel (Jaycee); great-grandchildren, Macy Schrepel, Kimbyr and Emma Sanders, Ella Schrepel, and Blaise Schrepel; nephews, Phillip Cox (Lois) and Steve Cox (Jean Ann), Jim Camp; nieces, Rene Olivo, Melanie Vest, Molly Hollingsworth, and Shana Camp Lyle; five great-nephews; sisters-in-law, Shirley Cox Russell and Virginia Owen; her best friend of 50 years and roommate in nursing school, Becky Cantrell. Claudette was also preceded in death by her daughter Jan Cox Schrepel, brother, Glenn Owen, Jr., sister, Sharon Owen Weatherford, brother-in-law, Choyce Cox, and sisters-in-law, Maxine Overton, Ila Rhea Crispino, Jean Cox Hobbs, and Melanie Ware Owen. The memorial service celebrating Claudette's life will be on Thursday morning, July 18, 2013 at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church with Reverend LaVon Post officiating and under the direction of J.A. Funk Funeral Home. Special thanks from the family go to Dr. Brad Baltz, Dr. Rhonda Gentry, Dr. James Shuffield, Dr. Nancy Rector, Ralph and Phyllis Williams, and all her church family and friends. No flowers please. Memorials are requested to First United Methodist Church, 127 East Page Avenue, Malvern, Arkansas 72104. Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.

Published July 17, 2013

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