Nov. 14, 1935-Nov. 13, 2023
Gerald Loraine Cox, 87, passed away Nov. 13, 2023, due to Alzheimer-related conditions.
He was born Nov. 14, 1935, in St. George, Utah, to V. Loraine Cox and Anna Carter Cox
He married Nancy E. Anderson in November 1954 in the St. George Temple. They later divorced and he married Deanna Henderson on June 23, 1992. Later, they were sealed for time and eternity in the St. George Temple.
Gerald was raised in St. George where he helped his Grandmother Carter with the morning chores before school. He milked the cows and gathered eggs then walked to the Woodward Building for school. As he grew older, he helped his father haul fuel for McCord’s Service. On a trip to California he was 14 years old and drove the fuel truck from L.A. to St. George. He wasn’t tall enough in the seat, so he placed a brick on the gas pedal to make it home.
While attending Dixie High School, he joined the Utah National Guard and later enlisted in the Army. After his service, he came back to St. George and worked for Eric Snow at Snow’s Furniture where he learned to lay carpet and flooring.
Gerald decided to attend Dixie College and later Southern Utah University where he graduated with his teaching certificate. He later completed his master’s degree at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. This is where he came up with the idea to open his own restaurant.
Gerald taught grade school at East Elementary for 25 years, where he was known as the “teacher to have.” He was a favorite among the kids with all the projects he would do — launching rockets, tooling leather, paper mache and many other art projects. He loved playing the guitar for the students and they loved his songs.
While teaching school, he was called to be Scoutmaster in his LDS Ward. This was a love of his to teach the boys to better themselves in life. He was a successful Scout Master and had many teenagers obtain their Eagle Badge.
Gerald found teaching to be easy, so he decided to do something hard: open a restaurant that he had been dreaming about for years.
The Brandin’ Iron was his pride and joy. He loved cooking the best steak in Southern Utah and seeing all the customers come in. After cooking their meal, he would “make the rounds” and personally greet them to make sure everyone was happy. Gerald ran the Brandin’ Iron for 40 years and loved every minute of it. After marrying Deanna, they successfully ran the restaurant together for 25 years. They would travel in the months the Brandin’ Iron was closed and explore the antique shops along the way.
Gerald is survived by his wife Deanna, his children Lisa (Kent) Provstgaard, Jeff (Raquel) Cox, DuRae (Cindy) Cox and Rochelle (Ted) Hurst, his sister Sylvia Ence and brother Jim (Ramona) Cox, 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He helped raise and is survived by many of his nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his sisters Loretta and Joanna, brother-in-law Quentin Ence, son Gary Lee and nephew, Loraine Farnsworth.
The family would like to thank the Veterans Home and staff for the loving care they have provided for Gerald the last year and a half, and also to the nurses in the Hospice program.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, Nov. 20, at 11 a.m., at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff St., St. George, Utah.
Visitations will be held on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, from 4-6 p.m. and again on Monday, from 9:30-10:30 a.m., prior to services.
Friends and family who are unable to attend the services in person are welcome to view them virtually by clicking on the Spilsbury Livestream Link
Arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff St., St. George, 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to sign Gerald’s online guest book.