Tracy Lynell Cox

Tracy Lynell Cox, 55, of Newburgh, IN, passed away Monday, September 28, 2015, at Deaconess Gateway Hospital from cardiac arrest. She was born January 10, 1960, in Dallas, TX. Tracy is survived by her husband of 24 years, Jim Cox; son, Nicholas; daughter, Haley; parents, Monte and Joy Robinett; and sister, Tresha Sawyer and her husband Jimmy.

Tracy lived a very vibrant life; she worked hard and some would say she played even harder. Throughout her life, she had the opportunity to see, do, and experience so much more than most people.

Born in Dallas, Texas, she lived in several places growing up including Jamaica, as her dad followed construction projects. The family eventually settled down near Houston, where she graduated from Alief Hastings High (go bears!) in 1978. While there, she played varsity basketball and ran track while working on the school newspaper. In 1984, her son, Nicholas Allen (Nick) came into her life. The joy he brought as a young man was obvious to all who knew her then. She returned to Alief Schools working in the food service area, and blessed many children and staff with her smiles, her drive, and her compassion. She was the one who first implemented a free and reduced lunch program in Alief, resulting in many children receiving good, healthy lunches who otherwise might not have. She was green even in those days, starting recycling programs at school and serving as the chair of the Houston Recycling Council.

In 1991, she said yes, and soon after, she married Jim Cox, who would be her husband the remaining years of her life – through the riches of foreign countries, and the challenges of unemployment; through sickness and health. While they didn’t have much when they started their lives together, they had each other and Nick. A few years later, a daughter, Haley Lynn (who for the longest time they expected to be a boy) completed the family, bringing even more happiness and love. They enjoyed exploring – from hikes in the Rocky Mountains, to strolling the strip in Vegas. She knew how to have fun.

In 1998, Tracy “retired” from a career and the family went on the experience of a lifetime: moving to Sao Paulo, Brazil for nearly three years. In addition to vacations in places like Rio de Janiero, Manaus, and Buenos Aries, they got to go to wonderful restaurants, extravagant parties, and experience different cultures. Estava Otimo! Her eyes were truly opened from those experiences, and after that she had a thirst to travel that would never be quenched. As much as she loved living abroad she always got a single tear on her cheek upon landing back in the states as an “I am home” feeling would wash over her.

During the years after Brazil, she served her church and her Lord as church hostess for what was then known as Williams Trace Baptist Church (now Sugar Land Baptist) under the ministry of Dr. Phil Lineberger. Working with his wife, Brenda, in the kitchen and caring for this growing church's more human needs for good food, she blessed many – from senior citizens to children's programs – from deacon banquets to visitor lunches, most always with a smile.

In 2005, the family moved to Florida, and she was ecstatic. She had loved the beach and everything about the ocean for her whole life. She would spend as much time on the white beaches of Fort Myers, Captiva and Sanibel as she could, while working in the principal’s office at Haley’s school. As great as this was, six hurricanes in 18 months led the family to seek another home, and after only 2 years in Florida the family moved once again landing in Newburgh (Evansville), Indiana.

She kept working and making a difference. She had a temporary job at Easter Seals for about three months, and she really enjoyed being able to help so many people there. She later got a job at Mesker Park Zoo helping organize parties, weddings, and anything else in that area. She worked training Docents and Zoo Teens and enjoying her second love after the beach – animals. She got to know everyone who worked there from the Zoo Director and the Keepers to the volunteers really well and made many new friends. It was with a heavy heart that she had to leave because of the complications from her leukemia, meaning that she could not be around all the germs that went along with being at a zoo.

She battled CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) and related health problems bravely until her body just became too tired to fight anymore. She is happier now, she is not in pain, or worried about becoming sick, and she can do anything she wants to and be free of her earthly body. It is hard for the family to accept this because we are selfish and want her here, but we know she is feeling so much better and happier in Heaven with her Lord.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, October 17, 2015, at Alexander Newburgh Chapel. Friends may visit 1:00 PM until service time at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sugar Land Baptist Church, 16755 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77479; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America, 941 East 86th Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46240; or at OceanicSociety.org.