Nick Fox

If you want to know what kind of person Nick Fox was, you need only hear this one story:

In 1970, Nick had a part time job washing dishes at a restaurant in Lakewood, Colorado. One foul night, Nick was taking out the garbage, slipping on the sleet that rained down, when he heard a faint noise coming from the dumpster. Inside was a tiny black kitten, wet and miserable and terrified. Nick stuffed the kitten inside his jacket and went back inside. The restaurant manager noticed the little lump and gave Nick two choices: either return the kitten to the dumpster or be fired. Nick did not hesitate. He called his mom and asked her to pick him up. No way was he letting that kitten suffer for the sake of a job.

Nick Fox died May 18, 2022, in Lufkin, Texas, at a Hospice managed group home called The Joseph House. He’d been suffering from both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases for six years. He had been wheelchair bound for many months. No one in his family would dispute that it was a blessing for him to peacefully let go of this worldly life.

Nick was born on Halloween in 1953 in Mercedes, Texas (in the Rio Grande Valley). His mother, Margaret, often said he was her salvation and she loved him fiercely. Nick grew up playing with a batch of cousins and under the watchful eyes of grandmothers, great-grandmothers and too many aunts to count.

His parents divorced when he was just three years old. Nick knew poverty until his life changed radically when his mother met and married an Air Force officer, Martin (Marty) Fox. Marty swept her and Nick away from Texas, adopted Nick, and took them to Kansas, and then to California. Nick kept in close touch with his grand- parents, who became Mamaw and Pawpaw. There was plenty of love to share.

Nick took good care of his younger sisters – first Midge and then Marta less than two years later. He helped them raise guinea pigs, hamsters, dogs, cats, and the many snakes and lizards he caught. He taught his little sisters how to fish and catch crawdads in the creek. Nick took his sisters with him as he explored each new neighborhood their father’s military career led them to.

One year, when the family lived in an ancient cottage in England, Nick invented the Blue Fairy, who left notes and treats for his younger sisters. He delighted them with stories of her adventures, as they eagerly searched the house for her messages. Nick was no saint - he also invented the “torture tickle,” and was known to lock a sister in the shed with a stink bomb.

Although Nick’s dad’s military life meant starting his senior year of high school in yet another new place, Nick quickly became one of the most popular students at the Dover Air Force Base High School. Some of those friends remained close for his lifetime.

Nick also served in the US Air Force, qualifying as a Photo Interpreter – a job that had him studying images taken from high-flying spy planes. There he met Sharon Perkins, an Air Force Photo Air Intelligence Specialist, and they eventually married. Nick and Sharon had a daughter, Rachel, in Colorado and Nick began a career in the car business. They later moved back to Nick’s roots, in Texas. Houston Texas is where Nick enjoyed a long fulfilling career with the corporate offices of Gulf States Toyota. When Nick and Sharon divorced, they remained friends. Sharon was able to visit Nick just days before he died.

Nick met his second wife, Karen, late in life while still employed with Gulf States Toyota in Houston. Nick always boasted about how much fun their wedding day was with both families and an impressive array of friends. Karen was much like Nick in that she never met a stranger. Nick and Karen had little time together before his illness began to manifest itself. Karen took her retirement as soon as she was eligible to become Nick’s caregiver. As Nick progressed in the diseases, he and Karen moved to Lufkin where her role as caregiver would be less complicated. After about two years, Karen placed Nick in Hospice care.

When Nick got his diagnosis, he was determined to continue living as long as he could. He and Karen continued to attend the Texans football games and tailgate with their good friends Debbie and Mike. Nick also followed the Astros and the Texas Rangers – and to throw parties. He visited his old high school friends back in Dover, Delaware and they held a mini-reunion to celebrate.

Nick’s last business venture was a pet boarding and grooming business in Houston,called Preppy Pet, and, true to character, he made sure shelter dogs got free care. He often brought one or two home for extra loving.

Nick leaves behind his wife, Karen Felts Fox; daughter, Rachel Fox Dills; sisters, Maggie (Midge) Fox and Marta Nelson; granddaughters, Josephine Avery Dills and Seraphine Fox Dills; grandson, Wyatt Mitchell Dills; nephews, Robert and William Nelson; and niece, Katharine Benic. He also leaves behind numerous cousins that have fond memories of their charming relative.

Nick was not affiliated with any church but he believed in God, as his wife can attest to their morning devotionals and regular Bible readings. Nick is in heaven now and probably visiting with his good friend Ms. Geri Hubbard and knowing how social Geri was, I’m sure she is showing Nick all the ends and outs of heaven. Nick, we will love and miss you forever.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Joseph House, P.O. Box 150554, Lufkin, Texas 75915.

Services are in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.

Condolences may be made to GipsonFuneralHome.com