Larry M. Cox, 63, of Ellis, passed away on Saturday evening, Oct. 22, 2022, at Hays Medical Center. Larry was born to Verle and Dorothy (Dechant) Cox on May 5, 1959. He grew up in Grainfield and graduated from Wheatland High School with the Class of 1977. He married his high school sweetheart, Lisa Kinderknecht on Oct. 16, 1982, in Park, Kan. To this union, they were blessed with two children.
After high school, Larry worked with a construction crew burying telephone cables. He moved back home to get married and began work at Wolf Memorial Co. in Ellis, fabricating and setting monuments.
As a hobby, he did wood crafts. Later he took a job with The Reactor, Inc. out of Quinter. While traveling the highways with this mobile reactor unit, mixing liquid fertilizer, he enjoyed seeing new sites, making many friends and trying all of the local’s favorite cafés and restaurants. In a roundabout way, he created his own version of "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives"; one of his favorite shows. When the kids would ask for directions to a destination, he would most often have a “shortcut” route. Larry was very proud to be a volunteer on the City of Ellis Fire Department for 26 years.
He was very proud of his children and enjoyed supporting them in their activities and adventures. He attended all of Emily’s vocal and band concerts and was Ethan’s pit crew chief at the go-kart races. His greatest joy was being a grandpa to his three grandchildren. There was always time for piggyback rides, putting puzzles together, playing outside in the dirt, or baking a sweet treat in the kitchen. And always in his pocket, a candy reward for a high five.
Larry is survived by his wife Lisa of the home; daughter, Emily Mattheyer and husband Jordan; son, Ethan Cox and wife Britny; grandchildren Mason and Ava Mattheyer and Mallory Cox, all of Ellis; brother Terry Cox and Mary Tuttle of Park, Kan.; sister DeeAnn Seelbach and husband Richard of Topeka; niece, Randee and nephews, Tyler, Dwayne, and DeeJay; mother-in-law, Virginia Kinderknecht; extended family and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, father-in-law, Robert Kinderknecht, and nephew, Lloyd Tuttle.
Larry will be missed by many.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis. Burial will follow the service in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, at St. Mary’s Church in Ellis. A combined Rosary and Parish Vigil service will be at 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials made to St. Mary’s School or Sheridan County Benefit Walk, or to be used according to the wishes of the family.
Condolences for the family may be left by visiting www.schmittfuneral.com