Dave and I met 30 years ago and have been hunting together ever since. We first met on a deer hunt on a club he had and then he invited me to join. Our inaugural hunt after I joined the club was for a wild boar. We left at 3 in the morning and drove to Greenfield we hunted all day and at last light we spotted a hog at 150 yards on the side of a hill Dave said go ahead and lay down and get comfortable I did he told me to squeeze the trigger I did the gun went click as I forgot to put a shell in the chamber. So I did, now it was getting close to dark. I squeezed the trigger the pig started tumbling all the way to the bottom of the canyon . Dave said now we have to go down there and get it so we climb to the bottom get the hog and climb back out in the dark. I am tired and this little guy in front of me is going like the ever ready rabbit. By the time we got the animal cleaned up and drove home it was midnight. That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.
 
Over the next 30 years we hunted in Alaska on Kodiak Island, Texas, Wyoming, California and Oregon. For 27 years we had the hunting rights for the Kastor's ranch in California and then in Oregon. Rance and Nancy were always great to us we had a lot of great times down in King City and in Oregon. Dave use to tell me to enjoy what we have as these are the good old days. He was right as we did not care who got the biggest or the most we just enjoyed being there to enjoy the experience and our friendship. Alaska was Dave's favorite trip back in 1996. We went in November it was cold and we were staying on a boat and were taking a skiff to the islands. About the third day we were sitting about 150 yards a part but could see each other I am watching a canyon he is watching another. After about 3 hours he motions me over to where he was . I walk over and as I get there he says Joe look back where you were sitting. I did and here is this 9 foot Kodiak bear standing where I had just been. What a rush. He just walked away and we went in the other direction.
 
Another Hunting trip I will never forget we were hunting hogs down in San Ardo one of the hunters in the group had wounded a Hog so the guide told Dave to get on the back of the 4 wheeler as they were going after the hog. The guide knew Dave was a good shot and had a great pair of eyes so off they went down the canyon up the canyon going like heck I saw the 4 wheeler go over this little hill with all 4 wheels of the ground and Dave holding on to the guide for all he was worth. A few minutes later a shot rang out and here comes the 4 wheeler with Dave the guide and the hog. I walked up to Dave and asked how was the ride he replied he was getting a little old for this and we both laughed till we had tears in our eyes.
 
Dave and I had talked about when are we going to stop hunting he said he wanted to hunt till he was 80, I said we will hunt till we can't get our wheel chairs through the forest. 

As many of you know Dave was not just a hunter he was teacher and I don't mean just a classroom teacher he taught me to appreciate the outdoors, he taught me it is ok to not always be successful when you are hunting, it is ok to pass over an animal and just enjoy the moment. Dave and I enjoyed each other company and talking politics to sports and our families. Dave loved his wife Grace and told me how they met how she was the love of his life, he talked about Jeff and Warren and of course the last few years all he wanted to talk about was his 2 beautiful grand kids. We discussed are grand kids all the time and how they could do no wrong.
 
I loved Dave Cox he was my little buddy, He was like a brother. I will never forget the good times we had together.

I will always have wonderful memories of Yuba Ave. Mr. Cox was always good to me and My Family. My Heart is with you Mrs Cox, Warren and Jeff. -Chip Holley

What a fun cousin Dave was!  We always enjoyed being with him whether it was talking about our growing up years, being together at family gatherings, Dave & Tom sharing hunting experiences, or discussing our mutually favorite TV shows. He was a sweet man and we will miss him.
Love always, Claudia & Tom

Life passes all too quickly. Dave, you will be missed.  May you rest in peace and comfort.

Dear Family,

I was so shocked and saddened to hear of Dave's passing.  We had several long talks at Vasona Creek re-hab center sometime back due to Dave's knee replacement.  I have always enjoyed his easy going demeanor and his hunting stories.  He was a retired teacher and I've always had the highest regard for teachers.  They help raise our kids!  Very important people.

Charmain and I will be on a pre-paid vacation for 10 days next week so we will not be able to attend the services for Dave.  I so hoped the services would be at another time in hopes of seeing you all.  I miss our family gatherings of years ago.  We are so spread out now of which happens with families when we move around.

My condolences to you all, siblings, Uncle, and spouse, Grace.  Grace, what a wonderful caring person you are.  You have been so caring to our family, especially all the time you take to care for my aging parents.  We are indebted to you my dear.

Hugs all around,

Paul & Charmain

David Gerald Cox was born January 20, 1934 in Saratoga, California, the second child of Frank A. and Myrtle Gardner Cox. He was proudly a son of his historic past.  Here are some memories of life on the farm. 

Dave (known as "Jerry" until he went to high school) grew up working very hard to help harvest the prune crop on the family ranch. Even though today the fruit is called "plums" we were growing a special variety called french prunes which thrived in Santa Clara County.  During blossoming, the whole valley would be bathed in billowing white.  

There was a lot of work to be done at harvest.  The children were good prune pickers, as the fruit was picked up from the ground by crawling around on the knees and gathering the prunes from amongst the leaves.  We were required to do a clean pick, which meant no leaves with the fruit. "Picking" meant covering the entire 11 acres five times over so the fruit was new-fallen, and none was missed at the end of the season.  We always went to school on the first day, and then stayed home to pick prunes until the crop was all in. The prunes were put in boxes which held about 50 lbs. each and then taken by flat-bed truck to the dipper where they were given an acid scald in very hot water heated by coal oil.  This removed the blue coating from the prunes so they could be laid out in the hayfield on eight foot trays and sun dried. When dry, the trays were stacked in the field for a few weeks to allow the fruit to season to even moisture content.  Then the fruit was scraped off the trays using an old license plate and hauled to Grandma's garage which had a nice clean concrete floor where the prunes were dumped out in a pile to continue with the moisture exchange.  When thoroughly seasoned, the dried prunes were shoveled up with a snow shovel and put into burlap sacks which were sewn shut at the top using a huge needle and burlap string.  The crop was usually sold to SunSweet on contract.  Payment was received around the year which meant long periods with no apparent income to cover family expenses.

We lived on a dry farm. Since there was no water well on our property, the orchard was never irrigated. Various methods were used to get domestic water. At first we had a 500 gallon steel tank in the yard filled with good water from Grandma's well up the road.  After the tank could no longer be moved on the rickety old wagon it was sitting on, we brought water from Grandma's  house by the gallon in big metal milk cans in the trunk of the car. Long, hot showers were not an option!

Growing up on the ranch was hard work, but great fun, too.  We played in Campbell Creek at the back of the ranch (we called our place "Rancho Lambago"--the ranch with the creek in the back!)  We climbed the sycamore tree down at the creek where we also had the old swimmin' hole.  Many great memories!  It made for a great childhood.  Thanks, Dave, for being a big part of it.  With love,  Audrey.

Mr. Cox was my 5th grade teacher in 1966. He was a wonderful man who was one of three teachers in my life who inspired me to go into education as a career. His easy manner, genuine caring for students and enthusiasm for teaching was his gift to not only me but countless youngsters who's lives he touched. Rest in peace, Mr. Cox. You were one of a kind. My sympathy to the entire Cox family.

Mr. Cox was my 5th grade teacher in 1966.  I remember him well because he was such a kind and gentle soul.  He was interested in my art work outside of school, and gave me praise and encouragement that meant a lot to me.  The first day of school, he smiled and joked around with us and made us all feel comfortable.  I know he helped many children feel good about themselves and made such a positive difference in the world.  All blessings to him, and to his family.

Mr. Cox was my Social Studies teacher at Monroe, 1972. Rest peacefully.

Uncle Dave, you were loved and will be missed.  We were lucky to have you as family.

Dave was our kind, funny, and generous neighbor. He was a fixture on our street with his dog Cobber and always at National Night Out. We are very saddened by his loss and will miss him greatly.

David Cox was like a brother to me. I loved him very much and will never for get the great times we had together hunting and fishing. He taught me so much about hunting and about life. God speed my friend. Grace, Jeff and Warren may God comfort all of you at this time. God Bless, 

Love to you all

Dave was a great man.  Always loved seeing him and he was a big part of my childhood memories.  My most sincere apologies to his family and friends.  He will be greatly missed.

OBITUARIO

David Gerald Cox

20 enero, 1934 – 15 julio, 2013

Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary

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