It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Micheal Lester Cox, who left us peacefully surrounded by his loving family.  After long and stubborn negotiations with the Grim Reaper he finally agreed to hang up his remote control and called it quits on Monday, July 17th.  If you knew Mike, you'd know that when the self-professed man who "loved the sound of his own voice" fell silent, the jig was up.

Born on January 21, 1946, in Wichita Falls, Texas, to the late Bertel Cox and Helen Ruth Dunn, Mike was an exceptional man.  His profound love for his family, passion for his country, and unwavering faith made him a beacon of strength and compassion to all who knew him.  His favorite and consequently only sister Shirley, showed up on the scene shortly after him (and when we say shortly, we mean the same year). She still laughs about their childhood antics.  You'd often find Mike playing baseball, on the battlefield (a/k/a the flowerbed) commanding an army of plastic soldiers, or hot on Shirley's heels poised to drop a grasshopper down her back.  Mike quickly took to the driver's seat, earning his hardship driving license at 12 and kickstarting a lifetime hobby of, well, backseat driving.  Mike never let a person around him reach driving age without offering his expert advice.

His academic pursuits led him to the University of Houston on a tennis scholarship, and then to roles at River Oaks Country Club as Assistant Tennis Pro and Memorial Forest Country Club as Head Tennis Pro.  Here, he met Linda Hausman Butler, his former wife, with whom he raised five children who were always a source of immense pride for him.

In 1970, Mike swapped his tennis racket for a police badge when he joined the Houston Police Department.  Over the years, Mike performed a variety of roles, with his last twenty five years as a Sergeant of the Motorcycle Division.  He had great pride in his career, and loved to tell stories of the multiple VIP characters for whom he provided security, from the Bush family to Muhammad Ali to Snoop Dogg.  He also kept his friends and family laughing and intrigued with his favorite stories of movie sets where he provided security, including his "famous" cameo in The Line of Fire that he forced his family to watch on repeat…all three glorious seconds of it.  After 35 years of service he retired from the Houston Police Department, but went on to explore his creative side by writing a book, Speed Trap, in which he displayed his exceptional talents as a story teller.

In his personal life, Mike was a devoted husband to Judy Rhodes Cox.  His dedication to God, family, and country resonated with Judy, and their bond was characterized by mutual respect and deep affection.  Their first date closed down the restaurant four hours later.

Even in the last few years when his health slowed him down, his love for politics and cinema kept him entertained.  He was never without a remote in his hand and a political opinion to debate.

Left to treasure his memories, stories, and pass on his much given wisdom is his wife, Judy Rhodes Cox, his children Sean Cox and wife Camille Cox, Amber Schatz and husband Dr. Eric Schatz, Gabriella Webster and husband David Webster, Esq., Natalie Cox, Joshua Cox, Dr. Richard Rhodes and wife Marian Rhodes, Russell Rhodes and wife Rebecca Rhodes, and his sister Shirley McCormack and husband Don McCormack.

He delighted in his role as "Grandbear" to his twenty grandchildren and two great grandchildren all of whom hope to live up to his driving standards and political debating skills.

So, come join us in a celebration of Mike's life, Saturday, August 12th at 2pm at Klein Funeral Home Magnolia- The Woodlands.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the 100 Club of Houston, a charity close to Mike's heart, supporting families of law enforcement officers and firefighters who have been killed or injured in the line of duty.  Trust us, Mike would've appreciated the gesture - and most likely used It as a starting point for another spirited deliberation.

Memorial contributions can be made to the 100 club. https://the100club.org/give/join/generalcontributions/