James Clinton “Jim” Cox died on Jan. 11, 2026, at his home in Kempner, surrounded by his family, after a brief illness.
Visitation will be held Jan. 29 from 5-7 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home in Lampasas.
Funeral service is set for Jan. 30 at 11 a.m., also at Heritage Funeral Home.
Born on June 30, 1949, in Lampasas, Jim was the son of Virgil Edell Cox and Corrine Roden Cox.
He graduated from Lampasas High School in 1967, attended Central Texas College and later completed the fire academy at Texas A&M. He continued his training at Scott & White, earning his state certification in EMS.
Jim devoted his life to serving the people of Lampasas County as a first responder. He played a key role in establishing the Kempner Fire Department, where he served as a volunteer firefighter.
In the early 1970s, he moved to Lampasas to join the Lampasas Fire Department, retiring as a paid firefighter in the early 1990s. His service didn’t stop there. Jim went on to work as an EMT and later as a paramedic for Lampasas County, as well as for Granite Shoals EMS.
He later worked for Walmart while continuing his passion for service as a volunteer firefighter in Lometa. One of his greatest joys was leading the Lampasas Volunteer Fire Department’s annual toy drive, a tradition he helped grow and oversaw each year.
Jim is survived by his daughter, Tonya Johnson of Copperas Cove; his son, James L. Cox and wife Lois of Salado; brothers Robert Cox of Copperas Cove and Jackie Cox of Kempner; sisters Ann Gee of Magnolia and Shirley Wangler of Kempner; stepdaughters Cyndi Sims of Lometa, and Chandra Spitzer and husband Robert of Copperas Cove; and stepsons Robert Pettigrew and wife Shawndra Cain of Pearland, and Rickard Mitchell and wife Lynn of Madison, Alabama.
His grandchildren include Chelyse Cox Blackmon, Kelyse Cox, Bethany Johnson, Christopher Johnson, Zackary Cox, Patrick Cox, Ryan Cox, Ashlee Clawson, Bailee Cox and Kaylee Cox. Step-grandchildren include Avery Mitchell, Zandra Mitchell, Katie Mitchell, Madisyn Walle, Alexis Walle, Kyle Winstead, Bryon Winstead, Skyler Buteaur, Ashley Lacaze, Sonia Edmondson, Dakota Hand, Dillon Sims, Megan Westbrook, Dakota Bannister, McKenzie Pettigrew, Kendall Pettigrew, Gracelynn Pettigrew, Mateo Cain, Dianne Harwill, Raymond Wallace, Samantha Spitzer, Joshua Spitzer, Noah Spitzer, Romella Spitzer, and Veronica Hood.
His great-grandchildren include Cody Johnson, Allison Blackmon, Isabella Harrod, Elena Harrod, Avery Herrod, Noah Campbell, and Elijah Villarreal, along with more than 20 stepgreat- grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gail Odom Cox; his sister, Cora Flud; his grandson, Ethan Christian Campbell; stepgranddaughter Melanie Pacheco; stepdaughter Romona Pacheco; and stepgrandson Evan Cain.
