Rosaleen Mae Cox

Rosaleen Mae Cox passed away Friday morning May 17, 2024. She was in her home at the Nazareth House Care Facility in San Diego. She would have turned 96 years of age in 8 more days, on May 25, 2024. Rosaleen was born in May 25, 1928 in Farmington, Michigan. Her father Charles F. Cox (1893-1971), mother Rosalea E. DuShane Cox (1893-1961) and sister, Margaret Mary Cox (1923-1934) preceded her in death. She is survived by four step children, Carol Smith of Casa Grande Az, Carl W. Shepard Jr. of Farmington Utah, Donald Shepard and Dennis Shepard of Escondido, California.

Rosaleen grew up in Farmington Michigan and went through 8th Grade at Our Lady of Sorrows School, graduating on June 13, 1941. She then attended St. Joseph Academy in Adrian, Michigan, and St. Joseph College after High School.

After graduation she began her professional carrier at R. L. Polk & Company and then with Michigan Bell Telephone Company in the Detroit area. After approximately 10 years with Michigan Bell, she headed for southern California.

In January of 1962, Rosaleen had Allied Van Lines load her entire household at Haynes Ave. Farmington Michigan, and shipped it to 874 Diamond Street, Pacific Beach California. After a short time, she purchased a house on Thomas in Pacific Beach.

On May 10, 1966, Rosaleen purchased for a total of $2,560 a brand new 1966 Ford Mustang, Bronze exterior and Beige interior. It was her very favorite car. She kept that car for decades.

On November 22, 1974, Rosaleen married Carl W Shepard, and a 46-year loving partnership began. With Carl came a family of four children, and a family that grew to 11 Grandchildren and 15 Great Grandchildren.

For as long as she can recall, Rosaleen had Beagles as her pet. There was Raliegh, McDuff, Pearcy, Rufus, and she even reused names. She loved the Beagles, taking them for walks, making sure they had great care, taking them on their many “road trips” across the county.

As an avid Bird Watcher, she kept logs of her trips and the birds that she identified on those trips. She has logs of trips to New Mexico, Salton Sea, Coastal Calif., Utah, Idaho, and most states in south/central U.S.

Rosaleen Loved to travel and investigate the Arts, (theaters, museums,) in the world. Over 25 times she has flown to other continents, and visited places like Brazil, Israel, Egypt, Italy, Greece, most countries in Europe, British Isles, Australia, and many, many, others. Some said that Carl married Rosaleen so that he might travel too.

Rosaleen volunteered her time generously. Soon after moving to Pacific Beach, she registered with San Diego Volunteer Bureau and began working at various information booths around the city. In 1964 she received a trophy for completing over 500 hours of volunteering. She continued to volunteer for many organizations including the San Diego City Library for years. She delivered meals to “shut-ins”, worked at the Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas, San Diego Airport information Counter, San Diego Audubon Society, Humane Society, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and even volunteered at the 2008 U.S. Open Championship.

A Rosary service will be held on Sunday June 9, at 5:00 p.m. at the Pacific Beach Mortuary, 4710 Cass Street, San Diego. A Funeral Mass will be on Monday June 10, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Brigid Parish, 4735 Cass Street, San Diego. Interment will immediately follow Mass at Holy Cross Cemetery, 4470 Hilltop Drive, San Diego. The family invites all who know her to join in the celebration of her life.