Dec. 3, 2023-April 3, 2023
David Parke Cox, our brave and mighty warrior, left this life on April 3, 2023, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous 2 1/2-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Given a grim prognosis with only 90 days to live, Dave showed us all he’s “Strong as an Ox” by far surpassing those odds. Through the end, he selflessly endured an unimaginable amount of pain and suffering beyond what he let anyone know, never uttering a word of complaint and with a smile on his face.
Dave was born in St George, Utah on Dec. 30, 1955, to loving parents, Parke and Emily Cox. He had an uncanny sense of humor from a young age. There are endless stories of real-life incidents and staged practical jokes that Dave was at the center of. Even still, he accomplished many things throughout his younger years. He resided in St George throughout his entire life, graduating from Dixie High School – Class of ’74.
Dave was actively involved with the Boy Scouts of America and proudly reached the rank of Eagle Scout. He loved sports and excelled in track and football receiving multiple first-place trophies and state championships. Being born and raised in the LDS church, he gained a lifelong knowledge that he was a child of God. He maintained a strong belief in God and the church through the end.
Dave married Tina Crawley on Feb/ 4, 1977, and together they brought three beautiful children into this world (Brecken, Cortney and McCall). They later divorced but remained close friends throughout his life.
On July 6, 1996, Dave was married to his forever love, Elaine Robinson, and with that gained two bonus children whom he loved as his own (Trevor and Talisha). Dave was Elaine’s knight in shining armor. He loved her deeply and took such good, loving care of her and all of their loved ones. With their love and partnership, Dave and Elaine built a beautiful life together with their blended families creating an endless list of memories.
After a successful career with Moore Business Forms, Dave joined the family business at Cox Trucking in 1990. He was an icon in the trucking industry. Along with his brother Don, they mastered a business created by the hands of their mom and dad. He made many lifetime friends through business and trusted his closest business associates as just that, his friends.
Dave was the life of the party. His contagious laugh and outrageous and typically inappropriate stories kept everyone entertained for hours. He was naturally witty and quick to say something funny in most conversations. He was a master joke teller with the biggest of personalities and a boisterous and contagious laugh that entertained everyone around him.
He thoroughly loved time spent with his closest friends and with them created countless memories. He loved to golf and traveled all over different parts of the world honing in his swing which was ever-evolving as the years went on. Dave loved time spent in the mountains and especially when it revolved around hunting or snowmobiling. He was able to successfully fill his hunting tags with many beautiful animals even from a young age. He made a point to teach those skills and pass on his experience to each of his children all the way down to his youngest grandkids.
Family was his No. 1 priority throughout his whole life and everything he designed revolved around just that. Camping in the fifth wheel, outings at the cabin, playing cards for endless hours on the patio, and timeless vacations together all around the world are just a few. Dave even went out the same, just two weeks prior to his passing, by taking all the family on the trip of a lifetime to Costa Rica where he truly gave all he had into every minute of it flying across the jungle on a zip line, playing pool volleyball with all the grandkids, and sailing the ocean on a luxury yacht. He even played his last round of golf in the backyard of our vacation home on the Hacienda Panilla Golf Course.
Dave is survived by his adoring wife Elaine; parents Parke and Emily Cox; children Brecken (Leigh) Cox, McCall (Kade) Graff and Talisha (Brendon) Hunt; grandchildren Rylee, Parke, Lennon, Beck, Traven, Jada, Gema, Katie, Briggs, Chezney, Cort, Caden and Brightyn; siblings Tina Cox, Karen Reber, Jolene Johnson and Don (Laurie) Cox; brothers-in-law Miles Robinson, Wayne Robinson, Brad Robinson and Clay (Candi) Robinson. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews and an endless amount of friends, all of who loved and admired the man he was.
He was welcomed into heaven and the most joyous of reunions took place on Monday night as his two angel sons Cortney Cox and Trevor Rollins held him once again on the other side.
He was also preceded in death by his mother and father-in-law Eleen and Ronald Robinson, grandson Rylan Hunt, and brother’s-in-law Craig Robinson and Dave Johnson.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 8, at 11 a.m. at Dixie Technical College Auditorium Bldg A, 610 S. Tech Ridge Dr, St George, Utah. A private family viewing will be held prior. Dave’s final resting place will be at the Tonaquint Cemetery following the funeral services.
Friends and family that are unable to attend in person are welcome to click here to view services virtually.
Arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff St., St. George, 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to sign Dave’s online guest book.