James (Jim) L. Cox

Mr. James (Jim) L. Cox, 79, a resident of Trenton, Missouri died at 4:10 A.M., Saturday, February 14, 2026 at North Kansas City Hospital, North Kansas City, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. at The First Christian Church, Trenton, Missouri. Burial to immediately follow at Lick Fork Cemetery south of Gallatin, Missouri.

Visitation will be held Wednesday from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. at the church.

Memorials to either Lick Fork Cemetery or the Alzheimer’s Association (in honor of his late wife Marsha) may be left with Slater-Neal Funeral Home, Trenton, Missouri.

Mr. Cox was born April 16, 1946 at Gallatin, Missouri the son of Lewis and Reba (Dickinson) Cox. Being raised on a farm in rural Gallatin gave Jim an appreciation of agriculture that lasted him throughout life. He attended Gallatin High School where he met the first love of his life, Marsha Diane Melson. They were married September 2, 1967. He graduated from Northwest Missouri University, Maryville, Missouri in 1969 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture and a Minor in Industrial Arts. After College he went to work for the Farmer’s Home Administration where he made several lifelong friends both as clients and co-workers. During this time Jim and Marsha were blessed with two children, Michelle and Seth. Jim was incredibly proud of both throughout his life.  He moved from the FHA to being a Loan Officer with The Trenton Trust Company where he stayed for many years. While working there he attended the Boulder Colorado School of Banking where he graduated with honors. Then in 2001, he took a position with the Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri where he served as a loan officer. In 2002, he was promoted to his all-time favorite job, Grandpa. He retired in 2012 from the Farmer’s Bank of Northern Missouri Trenton Branch as the Executive Vice President and Branch Manager. Jim was given the precious gift later in life of finding love a second time after his first wife passed away. Theresa Ford (Gallatin) and Jim were married on March 21, 2015. Theresa has been an incredible blessing to the entire Cox family. Together they were able to travel overseas and share experiences Jim had long dreamed of seeing. Community service was a priority for Jim throughout his life.  He was a coach for many of Michelle and Seth’s sports teams. He served on the Trenton R-9 Board of Education and the Sunny View Nursing Home Board. He was a long-time member of the First Christian Church serving as an elder, deacon and on numerous boards within the church. He was one of only three awardees of the Trenton Lions Club who have received the Melvins Jones Award for distinguished service. 

Friends of the family know that Jim Cox was an avid story teller, with a near perfect memory of all the good times life brought him. The greatest gift you could give the family is that if you have one of those stories on Jim to share it with them.

His survivors include his wife Theresa of the home; one daughter Michelle Mazer and husband Tom, Cameron, Missouri; one son Seth Cox and wife Kendra, Laredo, Missouri; five grandchildren Koleby McClintick and Emma, Norborne, Missouri, Dominic Cox, Ava Cox, Elijah Cox, Oliver Cox all of Laredo, Missouri; two step grandchildren Cole Mazer of Kearney, Missouri and Chase Mazer of Cameron, Missouri; his mother-in-law Marceline Melson, Trenton, Missouri; one step-daughter Priscilla Johnson, Gallatin, Missouri; one step-son Travis Ford, Smithville, Missouri; four step-grandchildren Luke Johnson, Logan Johnson, Addison Ford, Trevor Ford and two cousins Dr. Larry Dickinson and wife Patty, Gallatin, Missouri and Dennis Cox and wife Joyce of Altamont, Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife.

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