Michael Cox

Michael Lester Cox, beloved husband and best friend, father, son, brother, grandfather, uncle, cousin and nephew passed away in Florence, Colorado on July 26, 2024 following complications from his brave 5-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 

Michael is survived by his wife, Cindy,  and his gorgeous three daughters, Christi, Janna (Cody) and Michelle Cox. His love for these four women was evident every day in everything that he would do and say. His face would light up upon phone calls and visits from his daughters, they were his life!

Michael is also survived by his mother, Lu Mckee; his brothers, Pat (Teresa) and James (Michelle); and his sister, Rachael (Mark) Hoffman; aunt and uncle, Dixie and Greg Green and aunt, Bonnie Holt.  He also leaves behind nieces and nephews, Patrick (Janae, Brylan, Braden and Breck), Tanner (Chloe and Calliope), and Clare Cox, Zachary Hoffman, Jamie (Brayden, Bryson and Levi) Hower, Tyler (Kayla) and Hunter (Payj and Carter) Cox. He was preceded in death by his father, James Cox; and his stepfather, Wilbur McKee. 

The light of his life was his grandchildren. They brought him so much joy with all their accomplishments and laughter from all their different and wonderful personalities. He’ll miss Nathan, Dash, Anna and Amber Deavers and Violet and Olive Schultz.  He loved and cherished them immensely.

Mike worked in the oil industry on the Western Slope for many years and then took up working in the construction industry. He has worked in almost every facet of construction to include roofing, siding, decking, remodeling and new construction. Mike was the general contractor when he and Cindy built their new home in Florence in 2005.  Michael was hired as a Building Inspector for the Fremont County Building Department in 2000.  He retired 20 years later – January 2020 - after being fired, re-hired and then promoted to the position of Building Official with 5 employees working for him. It was a job he loved and excelled at!

Michael had an epic love for three things: His family, music and the Bronco’s. Michael taught himself how to play the guitar and had the voice of an angel when he sang. When he was younger, he had several of his songs/lyrics copyrighted. Some of his favorite artists were John Prine, David Allen Coe, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Gordon Lightfoot. The Bronco season was celebrated in our home with great gusto. In July, Michael would start the countdown to the first preseason game. Michael collected music and Bronco paraphernalia with a passion.

Michael met Cindy in Denver at a Vietnamese bar in late 1998. He won her heart with his wit, humor and his amazing ability to sing and play the guitar so beautifully. They were married in Denver on June 30, 1999. 

In 2018, Michael started experiencing weakness in his feet and then legs. He eventually was diagnosed with ALS in June 2019.  By 2023, Michael was at the stage of ALS where he had advanced loss of any independence.  Michael faced the disease as best he could, which he did bravely with the assistance of his faithful caregiver and wife, who will always and forever love him.  He and his family are thankful to the ALS United Rocky Mountain Chapter for all they have done to provide equipment for him to use to make activities of daily living easier for him and Cindy to perform. They are also thankful for Fremont Regional Hospice and the staff’s day-to-day assistance in all it took to make Michael’s life and each day a “quality life”, especially towards the end, the Hospice nurse Kathy and CNA were priceless. Living each day with this disease was hard and each day was just a little harder than the last, but Michael, Cindy and his family appreciate the years, months, days, hours and minutes that God has given them together! 

Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life and luncheon on August 16, 2024 at The Venue at Oak Creek located at 800 N. Frazier in Florence from 11a to 2p.  To honor Michael’s love of the Bronco’s, if you would like, please wear something Orange and/or Blue.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Michael Cox, please visit our floral store.