Martha Jeannette Cox

Martha Jeannette Cox (Thacker), 87, of Salem, Oregon, passed away January 12, 2024 with her family by her side. She was born to the late James and Stella (Fair) Thacker, November 18, 1936 in Corvallis, Oregon. Martha graduated from Corvallis High School in 1954. She had many life long friends from Corvallis High. She was a proud OSU Beaver fan enjoying many football and basketball games. She loved going to work on occasion with her Dad who was a milk truck driver with Sunny Brook Dairy. A funny story that we never let her live down was that her and sister Marjorie, not living far from the fire station, they would always follow the fire trucks to the fires. Pretty soon, the fire fighters started recognizing them at every fire. They became suspects!! They quit following the fire trucks! Another one, the Willamette River was flooding and their Dad said, “you and Marjorie stay off that bridge” (Van Buren Street bridge). Well, busted again! The Corvallis newspaper took their picture while on the bridge and printed it! She loved spending time with her cousins, especially Shirley, who they spent much time and many weekends with in Lebanon, but Margaret and Bernice, were equally special. The five of them enjoying many lunches together. She also very much enjoyed spending time with her Aunt Ella as well as her grandsons, and all her sister and brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews. Martha met the Love of her Life, Marlin Cox, at Darrs, a hamburger drive-in on South 4th St in Corvallis where she was a car hop. They married November 10, 1955 in Stevenson, WA. She was always called Martha while growing up and her side of the family still calls her Martha. But after meeting Marlin, he and his side of the family always called her Jeannette! She was a stay-at-home Mom until Marlin was severely injured in an airplane accident in 1969. She went to work at the Lebanon, OR Airport Rd, Grocery Store. Then on to Stayton Cannery and eventually retiring from National Frozen Foods in Albany, OR, May 1991. Marlin and Jeannette then moved to Cedar Edge, CO not far from Marlin’s sister LaVerne. They loved their time there. Eventually moving to Dayton, OR and then Salem, OR. They loved traveling and visiting family and friends in Iowa, California, Colorado, Florida, and Louisiana. Their favorite hobby became dune buggying with their motor home in North Bend, OR with many friends. Jeannette was always a die hard Trail Blazer fan, and on one of their dune buggy trips she spotted Cliff Robinson, one of her favorite Trail Blazer, who was staying in the same camp ground and had her picture taken with him and his buddies. She was so thrilled! Jeannette is survived by her husband Marlin, son Jim (Denise) Cox, daughter Jan Goar, and son Jeff Cox. Grandsons, Nathan and Jeremy Bennett, Skyler (Tonya) Goar, Jared (Bryanna) Goar, Clayton and Craig Cox, and four great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death, her parents, her beloved brother Harold Fox, wife Ethel and niece Anita Daily; her sister Marjorie Leach, and son-in-law, Kent Goar.

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Martha Jeannette Cox

November 18, 1936 - January 12, 2024