Ruth Cox

Our beloved Naomi Ruth Mayhall Cox attained her final rest on March 29, 2023 at the age of 88 passing away peacefully at the Harbor Hospice Inpatient Facility in Portland, Texas. Her family will be forever grateful for the compassionate, caring, and loving environment Harbor provided both Ruth and her loved ones during her final days.

Born in Port Lavaca, Texas on January 25, 1935, Ruth was the third of five children born to John Jacon Mayhall and Birdie Beatrice Truelove Mayhall. Ruth was the only daughter and was beloved by all of her brothers. The family moved to Aransas Pass, Texas, where Ruth grew up, attended school and graduated as a proud “Bay Rat” from Aransas Pass High School.  After she graduated, Ruth began her career life as a telephone operator for GTE along with many of her dearest lifelong girlfriends.  Later, she worked as the switchboard operator at Thomas Spann in Corpus Christi.

While fresh out of school and working for the telephone company, Ruth met the love of her life who was to become her husband as well as her best friend, Mark Lovette Cox.  After a whirlwind courtship, they were married on July 30, 1954 and proceeded to build a life spanning 68 glorious years together. Ruth followed Mark in his military career to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and after the military service was over, they moved back to the Texas Coast living in Aransas Pass and Ingleside-on-the-Bay. The couple was blessed with two children, Rhonda and Jason and Ruth’s life revolved around the kids’ school, athletic and extracurricular activities. Ruth was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Ingleside and volunteered in many ways to promote and support the church.  Ruth served on the Ingleside Booster Club, the Ingleside Historical Society, Ingleside Little League Association, Ingleside-on-the Bay Planning & Zoning and volunteered for many years assisting in the local Elections.  Ruth loved gardening, home improvement projects, arts & crafts, sewing, playing canasta, dancing in honkytonks and traveling.  She made life an adventure for all of those around her including her grandchildren and great grandchildren, who adored and enjoyed her so very much.

Upon their retirement, Ruth & Mark retired to their property on the Nueces River near George West, Texas and enjoyed their golden years there tremendously.  Whether clearing land, building decks, planting gardens or raking leaves, Ruth never lacked for something to do at The River which translated to Mark never lacking for something to do either! Ruth and Mark made an amazing team and their love and dedication to each other set the standard for all those around them.  Ruth loved her deer, turkeys, hummingbirds, red hawks and her stray cats. Before her busy day in Nature began, she enjoyed coffee on the deck in the mornings which were hers and Mark’s special times. We know that’s where and how she’ll come back to visit us…as a butterfly, a bird or a bee, she’ll let us know she’s still enjoying her happy places along with us.

Ruth will be forever loved and remembered by her faithful husband of 68 years, Mark L. Cox. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Birdie Mayhall, her twin brothers Damon David and Namon Mayhall and her brother Carl Webster Mayhall.  She is survived by her daughter, Rhonda Cox Ryles (Donald Ryles-deceased) and her son Jason Hardie Cox, Sr. and his wife Sheryl. She leaves behind three grandchildren, Jason Hardie “Jay” Cox, II (Shannon) and their daughter Kenna Cox, Julie Irwin (Bill Porras) and their sons Royce and Randon Porras and Rachel Oglesby and her daughters Chasey (Joseph Benavides) and Cayley Oglesby.  Ruth is also survived by her most beloved little brother John Elvin Mayhall and his wife Jane as well as her honorary sister Sidney Hargis Osborn. Ruth will be loved and missed by many nieces and nephews as well as in-laws, family and friends.

Services will be held on Sunday, April 2, 2023 at Charlie Marshall Funeral Home in Aransas Pass, Texas.  Viewing and visitation will begin at 1 p.m. with a Memorial Service to follow at 3 pm.

From the Book of Ruth 2:12 May the LORD repay your work, and may you receive a rich reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have taken refuge."