NORMAL – Caroline S. Cox, age 104, passed away on February 4 at 10:45 pm at Heartland Healthcare in Normal.
Her memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Staurday, May 7, 2016 at Second Presbyterian Church MH Marque Chapel in Bloomington with Pastor Paul Stroup officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to service from 10-11AM at the church. Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington is assisting the family with arrangements.
Memorials may be designated for a scholarship fund to be named for Caroline Schaffer Cox at McKendree University in Lebanon, IL.
Caroline was born Caroline Ruth Schafer to Lewis Arthur Schafer and Marian Adele Hinchcliff Schafer on September 15, 1911 in Marissa, Illinois. She was delivered at home by her grandmother, Caroline McGowan Schafer. She had one younger sibling, Ilda Jean Schafer, born in 1914.
From a musical family on both sides, Caroline studied piano and during high school in Mascoutah, where her father was superintendent of schools, she participated in plays and debate and became an excellent typist. She graduated in 1931 from McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois, where she studied English, was a champion debater, took part in and directed plays, and was chosen May Queen in her senior year. She studied business courses at Southern Illinois University for a year and then went to teach at Kenney High School where, on her first day, she met John Kavanaugh Cox. Her memoir states that it was “love at first sight” and “the beginning of a 63 year love affair.” At the end of their school year, they were married in Alton, on June 23, 1933 and moved to Buffalo where John served as Superintendent of Schools. Their children, Marian Elizabeth and John Lewis were born in 1934 and 1936, respectively.
The family moved to Oak Park in 1944 when John began work with the Illinois Agricultural Association. They all became active in First Baptist Church, and Caroline was kept busy with the family. She was a superb seamstress, sewing beautiful clothes for herself and her children. She later became Administrative Assistant to the Oak Park Superintendent of Schools. She and John moved to Bloomington when the IAA moved down from Chicago.
In Bloomington, Caroline joined the Woman’s Club, a book club and became a member of JV Chapter of PEO.
They became members of First Baptist Church and, later, Second Presbyterian Church, where Caroline was a member of Sarah Circle. They always loved to dance and were among a group of friends who frequently went dancing at the Elks Club. When her younger sister passed away, she drove to Ohio for several years to help her children get ready for school and cooked for them. She also served as a volunteer at what is now Advocate Bromenn Hospital.
Caroline is survived by her two children, five grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, one nephew, four grandnieces and three grandnephews.
The family wishes to thank Dr’s. Abadeer and Sriratana, the wonderful nurses and staff of Advocate Hospice, especially Sarah Smith, Janet Killian and Linda Anderson, as well as the YWCA Home Care staff, especially Elizabeth Richardson, Barb Robinson and our special angel, Connie Morger. Thanks, too, to Mr. Joe Rabbitt from Kibler-Brady-Ruestman for his kind helpfulness.
Caroline was a warm, loving, wise and witty mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, beloved by friends and family alike. She will be sorely missed until we meet again.
Online condolences and memories of Caroline may be left for the family at kiblerbradyruestman.com.
