David Norman Cox

David Norman Cox (1937-2018)

The facts say Dave Cox was born January 26, 1937 – died March 13, 2018.  But the true story of the man lies in the dash separating those two dates.  He was the eldest of three children born to Bud and Millie Cox and raised primarily in Ione, Washington.  A tall, skinny kid, Dave had a penchant for outlandish practical jokes; despite being the sheriff’s son!

He joined the US Navy at age 18 and began a 30-year career that would define him for a lifetime.  During his time in the Navy, including tours in both Korea and Vietnam, he developed a unique set of characteristics: the ability to tell a wonderful yarn, a penchant for “support equipment yellow,” a fondness for obscure delicacies, and a membership in a brotherhood that lasted his entire life.

Still young after his retirement from the Navy, Dave found his second calling as an instructor at Spokane Community College teaching industrial electricity and robotics for 31 years.  He was a natural at teaching – combining intelligence with a unique way of seeing the world that made complex concepts relatable.

Following his retirement from teaching, Dave found the time to explore his artistic and creative nature.  He would find a topic or craft that intrigued him and dive head-first into every aspect of it whether it was creating chainmail, restoring carts and buggies, or building Norwegian Tine boxes.  In 2009 he opened his Etsy shop, HarmonyCraft, and found the perfect environment to merge two of his favorite pastimes: creating new things and learning about new people.

Dave had the luck to be married to three wonderful women during his lifetime.  He married his first wife, Lora Fehr, in 1958.  They had three daughters and went on a lot of road trips.  In 1980, he married Deanna Wolfe and although they had no children together, they raised a menagerie of critters including donkeys, mules, and llamas.  Following Deanna’s untimely death to cancer, Dave married Carolyn Mortensen in 1996.  With her help he found his smile again.  They also managed to raise a herd of mules, a pack of dogs, a flock of chickens, and a gaggle of grandchildren.

In 2011 Dave began weaving Nordic stars – the classic, eight-pointed stars were created from rattan and infused with myths and tales of the Nordic gods.  It was the perfect blending of story, creativity, and love.  Shortly before his death, Dave created his first original designs: Thor’s Thunder Star – a star of power, with hidden depths; and the Star of the Snow Dragon – his only six-pointed star, meant to symbolize silence and stillness.

His life, like his art, was a weaving of boyish curiosity, outlandish tales, boundless love, irreverent humor, and ready laughter.  Although his booming voice and wicked grins are no longer with us, he is woven through every aspect of our lives in a way that leaves us grateful to have known him.

Dave is survived by his wife Carolyn; sister Dee (Kathleen); brother Richard (Pat); daughters Kaycee Brennick; Kerry (Frank) Hallings; Kelly (Don) Trowbridge; step-son Monte (Norma) Mortensen; foster-son Josh Worley; thirteen grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by parents Bud and Millie; wife Deanna; and step-son Jon Wolfe.

Please join us at 1pm on Saturday, April 14th at 8616 N Lehman, Spokane Valley, WA 99217 to celebrate Dave’s amazing life.

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