The Rev. Gary D. Dr. Cox

Cox, The Rev. Dr. Gary D., 51, local minister and author passed away Wednesday, August 23, 2006, at his home after a 17 month battle with kidney cancer. Dr. Cox was born May 17, 1955 in Anderson, IN. He graduated from Madison Heights High School in 1973, attended Ball State University and worked at General Motors for several years in the late 1970s. He also worked as a musician, performing in the rock and roll bands Tangent, Kicks, and Ground Zero from 1978-1991. Dr. Cox and his wife Leigh moved to Oklahoma City in 1982 where he worked 15 years for ITT Snyder, starting as an instrument technician and ultimately attaining the position of regional sales manager. In 1996, he answered Gods call to ministry, attending Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, OK, graduating cum laude as valedictorian of the class of 1999. He was ordained in the United Church of Christ. Dr. Cox served as Associate Minister and then Senior Minister at University Congregational Church in Wichita from 1997 until his death. In 2005, Cox received his doctor of ministry degree from Chicago Theological Seminary. During his struggle with cancer, Dr. Cox wrote and published the book “Think Again: A Response to Fundamentalisms Claim on Christianity.” The book has been on the Top 10 bestseller list at Watermark Books in Wichita since its publication in March, 2006. Dr. Gary Cox served on boards at Inter-Faith Ministries, Wichita State Campus Ministries, the Breakthrough Club, the Counseling and Mediation Center of Wichita and the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference, United Church of Christ. He was a founding member of Peace of Faith for Peace in Wichita in 2001. Dr. Cox is survived by his wife, Leigh; daughters, Cara Cox and Corrine Cox of Wichita and daughter Lisa Riazi, son-in-law, Mehdi Riazi, and his first grandchild, Mason Gary Riazi, born 8/22/2006, all of Irving, TX. Dr. Cox is also survived by his mother, Melba Keesey and brother, Greg Cox, both of Anderson, IN. A Memorial display and guestbook will be available at University Congregational Church 9:00am-2:30pm, Monday, August 28th through Thursday, August 31st.Visitation with the family will be 6:30-8:00 pm on Thursday, August 31st at University Congregational Church. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00am Saturday, September 2, 2006 at College Hill United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Inter-Faith Ministries 829 N. Market, Wichita, KS 67214, Victory in the Valley 3755 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS 67218 or Union Rescue Mission of Wichita 130 N. St. Francis, Wichita, KS 67202. Downing Lahey East Mortuary. Memorial Display and guestbook at University Congregational 9:00am-2:30pm, Mon.-Thur. Visitation with the family 6:30-8:00pm Thur. University Congregational Church.