Elizabeth Badgett ''Baber'' Cox

Elizabeth Badgett “Baber” Cox, age 89, formerly of Maryville, passed away on Saturday, April 16, 2011 in Spokane, WA. She was a life-long member of First Methodist Church of Maryville. Born on Mother’s Day, 1921, in the Maryville, TN home of her parents, John N. Badgett and Hazel Blankenship Badgett, tiny, diminutive “Baber” weighed 12 pounds at birth. She attended Maryville College, Tennessee Tech University and The University of Tennessee, where she studied journalism. She was married to Ernest P. “Pope” Cox, Jr. For 62 ½ years. In addition to being a dedicated homemaker, she served as corporate secretary for Maryville Realty and Mortgage. She loved reading, working crossword puzzles, playing bridge, doing crewel embroidery, and watching Tennessee Football games. “Baber” was an avid and enthusiastic expert on the genealogy of the Badgett and Blankenship families. She and “Pope” enjoyed wintering on Hutchinson Island, FL and traveling to Europe during their more active years. Following Pope’s death in 2005, Baber moved to Spokane, WA to be with her son and daughter-in-law, where her new friends affectionately called her “Tennessee Girl”. To her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was “Nanny Babe”. Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Pope Cox, Jr.; her parents, John N. Badgett and Hazel Blankenship Badgett; her brothers, James P. Badgett, J. N. Badgett, Jr., Guy M. Badgett and sister, Alyce Badgett Crow. She is survived by her son, Ernie and wife Hilda Cline Cox of Spokane, WA; grandson, Tim and wife Melanie Northcutt Cox of Chanhassen, MN; grandson, David and wife Jeanie Schoolcraft Cox of Fishersville, VA; great-grandson, Christopher Cox and wife Jessica Kocian of Seattle, WA; great grandson, Benjamin of Chanhassen, MN. Other survivors include her sister, Lillian Badgett Hatfield of Sanford, NC; sisters-in-law, Blanche Clark Badgett of Maryville and Betty Jo Teffeteller Badgett of Maryville, as well as a large number of nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at First Methodist Church of Maryville at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 29, 2011, with Pastors Brenda and Larry Carroll officiating. Friends will be received at First Methodist Church following the memorial service. Private interment (immediate family) will be in the Badgett family plot at Grandview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to First United Methodist Church of Maryville, 804 Montvale Station Road, Maryville, TN 37803.