Raleen Ann Cox, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and teacher, passed away on April 21, 2020. Raleen was born on Nov. 4, 1951 in Marshalltown, Iowa to Ray and Kathleen Yandell. She attended public schools in Marshalltown, Iowa. After high school she attended Mid-America Nazarene College in Olathe, KS, graduating with a B.S. in Education. She received her Master of Arts in Teaching from Webster University. Raleen taught in the Olathe Public Schools for 33 years – all of them at Fairview Elementary School – where she was ever dedicated to her Fairview "Cherubs". In retirement, Raleen continued her service to education, volunteering weekly at Fairview Elementary School. She was a member of the Olathe Public Schools Retired Educators Association as well as the Women's Giving Circle. A lifelong member of The Church of the Nazarene, she and Douglas Cox were wed there on May 26, 1973. They raised two children, Jeff Cox and Kari (Cox) Sorg. Raleen cherished (spoiled) her many pets: Jonathan, Sabrina, Bailey, Lucy, Dakota and Brodie. Many have said that if reincarnation exists, they'd want to come back as Raleen's dog. But above all, she loved being Grandma-saurus Raleen. And there wasn't anything she wouldn't do, or anything that was too good for her only granddaughter, Avery.
Raleen was preceded in death by her father, Mr. Ray C. Yandell of Marshalltown, Iowa. She is survived by her mother Mrs. Kay Yandell of Marshalltown, Iowa; husband, Douglas Cox of Olathe, KS; son Jeff Cox of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; daughter Kari (Cox) Sorg, son-in-law Justin Sorg and granddaughter, Avery Sorg, all of Olathe, KS; sister Gayla Jeanne Dunham and brother-in-law Dave Dunham, both of Casper, WY.
Raleen will be cremated with a small service for the family. Later in the summer we will hold a Celebration of Life Service for former students, colleagues, friends and family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the REA Scholarship Fund, c/o The Olathe Public Schools Foundation, 300 E. Loula, Olathe, KS 66061 or made online at www.olathepublicschoolsfoundation.org.
Or Project Starfish https://starfishproject21.org/starfish-project-fundraiser/
To leave a message of condolence for Raleen's family, or to share a special memory of Raleen, visit the guestbook below.