Dorris Edward Cox

Dorris Edward Cox, co-founder of Cox Planing Mill and Lumber Company, died Feb. 10, 2004 in the Piggott Community Hospital.

He and three brothers formed a partnership to begin the lumber company in 1948, with Dorris managing the planing mill. After the death of his brother Doyle Cox, he became president until he retired.

Cox was active in civic affairs, serving as city alderman for two terms and on the Piggott Parks and Playground committee when "A Face in the Crowd" was filmed. He was also a member of the Lion's Club for 33 years, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and president of the band boosters club in 1965 when the Piggott band marched in the Cotton Bowl Parade. He was a past president of the Piggott chapter of Gideons International and a member of the library board when the new library was built. He was instrumental in organizing the Jackson Street Mission Church that became Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Cox was a member of the First Baptist Church in Piggott since 1948. He was elected a Deacon in 1952 and served in many other capacities in the church including teacher in the television ministry, training union director, leader and teacher for boy's programs and served on numerous committees.

Cox entered the U.S. Army on Apr. 4, 1941, in Evansville, Ind., and served until his discharge as a staff sergeant on Oct. 12, 1945. He was on the U.S. President Johnson Liberty Ship in the Pacific Ocean when Pearl Harbor was attacked and was the initial invasion in the Philippines at Layte and at Okinawa.

Cox, 85, was born May 1, 1918, near Greenway, son of the late William Orley and Alda Henager Cox. He had been a resident of General Baptist Nursing Home for the past six years.

He was united in marriage to Camilla Bricker on May 1, 1946, in Piggott and to this union three children were born.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Doyle, Delbert and Randall Cox.

He is survived by his wife, Camilla Cox; three children, Alan D. Cox and wife, Bonnie, of Benton, La., Judy Catherine Phillips and husband, Michael, of Dardanelle, Ark., and Carol Ann Cox of Piggott; two grandchildren, Larissa and Kevin Cox of Fayetteville; two sisters, Neva Bradford of the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell and Genevieve Hill and husband, Hardin, of Greenway; a sister-in-law, Rilla Cox of Campbell; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 9a.m.-2p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11 (today), at Irby Funeral Home in Piggott. Funeral services will be held at 2p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Irby Funeral Home in Piggott, with Rev. Charles Carrens officiating. Burial will be in the Piggott Cemetery.