Vivian (Kowitz) Cox

Vivian (Kowitz) Cox passed into the arms of her Lord on February 5th, 2025. Vivian suffered a fall in which she fractured her femur and succumbed to complications a week thereafter. She passed peacefully under the watchful care of Monarch Hospice, her assisted living facility staff, and with her family at her side. A local service will be held February 15th at Aventura Senior Living 5901 W. 107th, Overland Park, KS at 2:00 pm. A formal service will be held March 8th at 10:00 a.m. At the United Methodist Church 103 N 4th St, Savannah, MO 64485

Vivian was born in St. Joseph, Missouri to Julius and Minnie (Triplett) Kowitz and spent her childhood growing up on farms near Union Star. When she was born, her family lived and farmed on ground near the Platte River and later moved up to a farm on Highway 169 between Union Star and Rochester, known as Black Oak Farm. Vivian attended grammar school at Helena, Missouri and High School at Savannah, Missouri. 

Vivian was the third of four children and was the last remaining member of her family, being predeceased by her Mother and Father and sisters; Barbara (William) Alexander, Agnes (Edward) Boulger, and Joan (Donald) Hegeman, and daughter Andrea who passed in 2016.

Vivian attended Northwest Missouri Teachers College in Maryville, Missouri (now NWMSU) and graduated in three years with a degree in Home Economics in 1950. That same year she married her husband of 71 years, Gerald A. Cox of Farragut, Iowa whom she met while at Maryville. Married on December 26, 1950, they had little time to enjoy a honeymoon to Kansas City before Gerald was inducted into the Army, serving during the Korean War as an intelligence officer in occupied Germany.

Vivian taught home economics in a career that spanned 29 years, starting as a substitute in Baltimore where Gerald was stationed for Agent Training School and taught alongside Gerald in Farragut, Iowa. After the couple moved to Omaha in 1957, she continued teaching in the Omaha and Ralston public schools until she retired in 1979. 

Vivian and Gerald moved from Ralston in 1982 to Vivian's childhood home at Black Oak Farm and undertook a renovation of the home. Due to health concerns they were required to pull up stakes in 1986 and move to the higher altitude of Colorado Springs and at 56, restart their careers building a successful investigations business. Vivian and family were intrinsically involved in United Methodist Churches wherever they resided but the 26 years they spent in 'The Springs' and at First UMC is where they felt most at home. Since moving to Overland Park, the couple had been members at Resurrection Church in Leawood.

Vivian and Gerald had two children; daughter Andrea Joyce Stanley (T. Michael) of Kansas City, and son Richard Allan (Lora) who reside in Overland Park, Kansas. She enjoyed her children, two grandsons Ethan (Nicole) and Marcus (Kristi), five great grandchildren and 16 nieces and nephews. 

Vivian was a member and Chapter Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a member of the UMW, PEO, Stephen's Ministries and in later years enjoyed serving on Resident Council and committees at Park Meadows Senior Living (now Aventura) where she lived until her death.