Mary Catherine (Smith) Cox, 91, of Lebanon, Indiana passed peacefully June 11, 2021.

Mary, the daughter of Dean and Myrtle Chafin Smith, was born Feb.11,1930 in Oxford, Indiana, near Fowler. She graduated from Pine Village High School.

During high school, she worked at a canning factory and at Kresqes Dime store. After graduation she was head cashier at the Purdue Student Union cafeteria, and later, a clerk at Ackerman Drug store and the Gift Barn. For several summers Mary 'ran" Cool Lake, a golf course, camping, fishing, and swimming area.

She was married to George O. Cox on May 30, 1950. George preceded her death in 2016. They moved to Wisconsin and lived with George's parents and sister, Barbara, on Barnum Farm.  In the fall they moved back to Purdue for George to finish college and lived in an army barracks. After George graduated from Purdue in 1951, they moved to Kickapoo, Wisconsin to run a dairy farm, raise corn, wheat, and oats at Gays Mills. In March 1953 they left Wisconsin and moved back to Indiana to live and work on the Purdue dairy farm. In 1956 George joined FHA and, the family lived in Lafayette, Lebanon, Greensburg, then moved back to Lebanon in 1960.

Mary was a mother of three, a Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout den mother, a Sunday school teacher, a Bible School Coordinator, Boone County Welcome Wagon president and assistant hostess to greet newcomers. She was a finalist in the Mrs. Boone County 4th of July Queen Court.

Mary enjoyed traveling across the country, camping, going to flea markets, collecting antiques, playing bridge, reading, supporting LHS basketball teams, plays & musicals, and times with her friends. She was an active and associate member of Tri Kappa, and a member of the Centenary Methodist Church.

Mary was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She will be greatly missed. In our hearts and thoughts, she will live on.

Survivors are: daughters, Beverly Emrick and Cathy Cox Weaver (Dennis) and son, Steve Cox; grandchildren are: Chris Emrick (Emily), Craig Weaver (Chrissy), Heather Denbow (RJ), Greg and Ben Cox and great grandchildren Cruz and Coral Denbow and George Asher and Will Weaver. Another great grandchild (Emrick) is due in Dec. She is also survived by one brother, Bob Smith and one sister, Lillian Mae Eller.

Family and friends will gather Sun. June 20, 2021 for visitation from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., with the funeral service following at 4 p.m. in the Strawmyer & Drury Mortuary, 2400 N. Lebanon St., Lebanon. Mary will be laid to rest at Pond Grove Cemetery in Otterbein. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 6500 Technology Center Dr., No. 100, Indianapolis, IN 46278. Online condolences may be made at www.strawmyerdrury.com .