1936-2023

B.W. was born October 19,1936 in Globe, Gila County, Arizona and died at age 86 on February 15, 2023 in a one vehicle roll-over accident on an icy stretch of U.S. Highway 60 near Magdalena, New Mexico.

He was preceeded in death by his terrific wife of 61 years, Billie (Hunsaker) and two sons: Len and Roland Cox.

He is survived by an uncle, a brother and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces who range in age from 93 years old to those in their late 20’s and in residences from Oregon and northern Utah through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Iowa and Ohio.

B.W. lived a full life of being a ranch hand, a ranch manager and a ranch owner. As he experienced each of these levels of ranching, he was always “pushing-the-envelope” to make the necessary decisions and to do the related jobs in the most efficient and resource saving and renewing way possible. He strived to accomplish all of this while causing the least amount of damage to the soil and pain or suffering to the plants and animals. B.W. also experienced a few enlightening years as a Bank Officer in Belen, New Mexico. He was a graduate of Globe High School and of life’s schools of hard knocks.

He loved his extended family. I remember stories told with delight by many of the nieces and nephews and some of the younger cousins, of school vacations spent on ranches in Arizona and New Mexico under the mentorship of B.W. and Billie.  They told stories of the many lessons learned in caring for others and for Nature and about their own self-worth. He was a loving but firm farther.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 1 p.m. in the “Chapel of Living Waters” at the old campground on the Montosa Ranch, Magdalena, New Mexico. Friends are encouraged to send, in lieu of flowers etc., donations to the Saint Jude’s Hospital.

Loving brother and friend.

Laddie M. Cox

Col. USA (Ret.)

 

El Defensor Chieftain