Violet Marie Fox

Violet Marie Wade Fox, age 89, of Battle Creek passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on Monday evening, January 24, 2022. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a very loving, caring wife, mother, and grandmother. Violet was born in Lexington, Kentucky on July 28, 1932.

Violet was preceded in death by her father, William Wade and mother, Emma Lee Marsh; husbands, William Mason Cooper and Bill Leon Fox; siblings, Minnie Lee, William Bruce, Roy, Bettie Lou, and Wilma Jean; children, Sarah Ruth Cooper, Bill Leon Fox, Phillip J. Fox; grandchildren, Marc Anthony Crawford, Allen Craig Smith, Michael Dearringer and Justin Noel; and sister & brother-in-law, Patricia and Dr. Archie Attarian. She is survived by her sister, Ruth Ann Brown and 13 living children, Michael Cooper, Andrew (Arlene) Cooper, Casey (Robin) Cooper, Lisa (David) Adams, Donald (Robin) Cooper, James (Karen) Cooper, Jeffrey (Christen) Cooper, Paul (Katherine) Fox, John Cooper, Joseph (Sandy) Cooper, Amy (Craig) Emens, Jackie Noel, Elizabeth (Tim) Sayles and her special companion, Scooter II.

Over 60 grandchildren, over 120 great-grandchildren and 18 great-great grandchildren. As a young girl she was a tom-boy. She had a winning spirit, especially when it came to competition, with the young boys that involved marbles, jacks, arm wrestling and tree climbing. She attended Bryan Station High School where she was a member of the Cheerleading Squad. At the sweet age of 16 she met her 1st husband, William Mason Cooper. Together they had a dozen children; 8 boys and 4 girls. She was a housewife who loved being a mother. She always put her efforts towards teaching, counseling, and nurturing each child. Whatever the children did and wanted to do she was always there to encourage and support. That support included believing in yourself, having a positive attitude, sitting on cold bleachers rooting & cheering. Spiritual support abounded as she lived and demonstrated by words and actions her faith and trust in the Lord. All were welcome in her home without judgement.

Later in life she met and fell in love with Bill Leon Fox (Honey Bear), which brought her to a new life in Battle Creek, Michigan along with 4 more children. She worked for 10 years for Harper Creek Community Schools and then found her true passion in being an educational aide for developmentally disabled adults. When her youngest child began her senior year, Violet decided to return. She said, "I thought it would be neat. All my children graduated from high school so I thought that I should be able to do the same thing. No matter how old you are, you can still learn. It's good for the brain to keep it busy." Forty-seven years after she left high school at 16, she graduated from Harper Creek's adult-education program.

She continued to express love for and teach each member of the family who was able to video chat, call, or be present in her final days. True to her word, she sang gospel hymns and a few fun songs as she passed through the veil to return to her heavenly home for a reunion with her Savior and loved ones who preceded her in death.

The family will receive friends 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, January 27th at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care. Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday, January 28th at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1312 Capital Ave. SW, Battle Creek. Interment will follow at Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorials directed to Elara Caring Hospice would be appreciated.