Zella Cox

Zella Pearl Putnam Cox
1916-2012

Our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away on January 20, 2012. Zella was born December 29, 1916 in Woodruff, UT to Clarke William Putnam and Emily Pearl Love. At age six, her family moved to Salt Lake City where she spent the majority of her youth and young adulthood. She was raised in a home with loving parents, two brothers and five sisters who were imbued with her father’s love of music and her mother’s love of social interaction. She was always very active and accomplished in sports, church and social events. She attended Grant Elementary School and graduated from West High School. In 1938-40 she served a full-time LDS mission to California. Upon her return she worked in the Salt Lake area until she met her beloved husband, LaVaun Cox. They were married on April 2, 1945 in the Salt Lake Temple and were blessed to spend over 60 years together.
At the time they were married, LaVaun was serving in the Army Air Corps. Zella moved to New Jersey to be with him until it was time for their first child to be born in 1946. She returned to Utah settling in Bountiful, which she called home for the next 66 years. During that time she was very active in the LDS Church and community. Five children were blessed to be born into her family: VaunZell Shallenberger (David), Clarke (Michelle), Bonnie Haines (Frank),Julie Eckman (Wayne) and Jared (Michelle). Her adult life was characterized by dedicated and loving service to her husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, extended family,neighbors and many friends. One of the great highlights of Zella’s life was the extensive national and international travel she enjoyed with LaVaun. Together they served two LDS missions to Pennsylvania and Tennessee and were also ordinance workers in the Salt Lake Temple for several years.
Zella is survived by her five children, 23 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, and sisters Helen Cox and Arvilla Child. The family would like to express deep appreciation to all who cared for Zella in the last years of her life. The family is grateful to Inge,Ann, Pat, Merisi, Tania, and Hannah for their service to Mom while she lived at home. We would also like to thank Hilary and all those at Aspire Hospice, Mountain Region Homecare, and Dr. Brian Rodgers and his very patient staff. A special thanks goes to Bruce Morrison and each of the capable caregivers at Welcome Home for making Mom’s last days pleasant. She truly felt at home there. Lastly, thank you to all those from the North Canyon 9th branch who so lovingly included her in their activities.
Funeral services will be held at the Bountiful 12th Ward Chapel, 1475 North 300 West at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2012. A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main, and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the 12th Ward Chapel prior to services. Interment will be at the Lake View Memorial Estates Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation to the LDS Humanitarian Fund be made.