DeWayne Cox

DeWayne Cox, 78 of Harbor Springs, MI passed away Sunday, January 31, 2021 at River Ridge Retirement Village in South Haven, MI.

He was born June 15, 1942 to Wynn & Opal (Smith) Cox in Battle Creek, MI.  He grew up in a close family including his two sisters and beloved Grandmother, “Ma”.  After receiving his associate’s degree, DeWayne enlisted in the Navy, assigned to the Seabeas.  He served three tours of duty in Vietnam.  After discharge in 1970 he took a job with the Michigan Employment Security Commission in Battle Creek, later moving north to Cadillac and finally Petoskey, where he was manager.  DeWayne retired after 30 years of working for the State of Michigan.  

DeWayne married Joan Crandall on April 2, 1965.  They shared 55 years and three children.  He loved fishing and hunting with his father and sons.  He canoed, kayaked and camped with his family throughout his life.  DeWayne was an avid cyclist, riding both bicycles and motorcycles on long distance trips.  DeWayne had a passion for flight and was a long-time member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, he built and flew model airplanes, attended Oshkosh yearly in preparation to build his own experimental motor glider.  

DeWayne was preceded in death by his parents, his sons Eric Wynn and Jeffrey DeWayne Cox and sister Judi Cox Rowe.  

He is survived by his wife Joan, daughter Anne Elizabeth Cox (Lisa Adams) of Lawrence, MI, grandsons Layne Fuller of Kalamazoo and Quinn Fuller of Dowagiac, his sister Sandra Howell of North Carolina, 3 nephews and two nieces.

DeWayne worshiped at and was a member of Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Petoskey, MI.

DeWayne will be laid to rest at Lake View Cemetery in South Haven, MI.  A virtual Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday March 7, 2021 at 10:30 am and may be accessed live via the Cross of Christ Petoskey Facebook page or viewed later on their You Tube channel.  Any memorials in DeWayne’s name may be sent to Cross of Christ Lutheran Church at 1450 E. Mitchell Petoskey, MI 49770 or Little Traverse Conservancy at 3264 Powell Rd. Harbor Springs, MI.