James Cox

James Cox, 52, of Grants Pass passed away Monday, June 4, 2012 at his home, surrounded by family, after a long battle of cancer.

Jim was born September 15, 1959 in Crescent City, California to John and Gladys Cox. The family lived in Brookings, Oregon until 1962, moving to Klamath Falls when Jim was three years old. Jim was a 1977 graduate of Klamath Union High School. He attended the University of Oregon receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in 1981, with a Minor in Business.

In 1981, he began his career as a manager with Kopper Kitchen Restaurant and Lounge in Wilsonville, Oregon and soon transferred to Grants Pass. In 1984 he purchased the old Dairy Queen building and renamed it to the Tasty Burger and sold it in 1989. From 1988- 2002 he was a manager with Payless Drug Store (Rite Aide) in Grants Pass. In 2002 Jim went to work at DCS, taking a leave in late June of 2007 when he was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Multiple Myeloma.

Jim met Susan Zysett while playing in a recreation volleyball league in Grants Pass and the couple married two years later in 1989. They welcomed a baby girl, named Jacqueline, into the family on September 4, 1991.

Jim enjoyed playing golf, tennis, volleyball, basketball and softball. He also enjoyed hiking in Southern Oregon with his family and his dogs Blondie and Cooper as well as gardening, reading and working on his stamp, coin and golf ball collections. He had been a member of the Grants Pass Golf Club, the Grants Pass Tennis Association and was a Rotarian.

He is survived by his wife and daughter, as well as his parents John and Gladys Cox of Grants Pass, his brother Steve Cox of Keizer, Oregon, his in-laws Robert and Patricia Zysett of Monroe, Oregon and 8 nieces and nephews. A brother, David Cox, died before him.

No services are planned at this time.