Gloria G. Cox

Gloria Cox, 92, passed away on Saturday, August 29, 2026. She was born March 2, 1934 to Hazen and Ruby Byers in Gueda Springs, Kansas.

Gloria Gay Byers was born to Hazen and Ruby Lorraine (Rankin) Byers on March 2, 1934 at the home of her Aunt June Rankin in Gueda Springs, Kansas. Hazen was a farmer and Ruby was the working “housewife” of this difficult era. It was many years before sister Sonya (Chance) and many years more before brother Gary arrived. Larry, the youngest, appeared much later. 

In 1948 the family moved from Barber County to Rose Hill. There, Gloria 14, Sonya 8, and Gary four, attended school and helped in the farming. Gloria soon had a best friend in Janis Cox. The girls did everything together. Janis introduced Gloria to her older brother, Keith, and the two were smitten and were a couple the rest of their lives.

Gloria and Keith were married on June 14, 1952, right after her graduation. Gloria was a homemaker while Keith worked at Boeing and other mechanical jobs. They raised three children, Terry, Rick and Cindy. They buried one son, Gregory Keith, in May of 1954. Keith and Gloria gained guardianship of their great-grandson when he was just 6 months old in 2002 and finally adopted Chandler when he was 12.

Gloria later studied to be a dietitian and food service supervisor. She was a dietitian in a nursing home in Wichita for a short while then moved to the care home in Rose Hill. She continued her education as she worked and soon was hired by Rose Hill School District as (she called it) head cook and bottle washer. At the annual back-to-school dinner for faculty and support workers Gloria became a well-loved speaker with her silly quips and much enjoyed satire. If you have never read it, you must see the poem “The Unfinished Cafeteria, or The Three That Didn’t Pray.” She introduced it at the annual get-together to grind in the fact the construction of the new cafeteria was moving WAY TOO SLOW for her. It is worth a couple of giggles. But probably she is best known for her excellent cinnamon rolls, made fresh the day of Chili lunches. In fact, she totally revamped the lunch program at RH Schools to all fresh made meals, bread and all, and the first ever salad bar opportunity for the students. 

After retirement she cared for her father in his later years, grandson Greg in his teens, her father-in-law Kermit until his death, adopted young Chandler to be her fourth child and babysat numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Many young people from Rose Hill and Douglas called Gloria their “second mom.”

After Keith passed Gloria seemed to find holidays and get-togethers less inviting. She began to lose weight. She broke her hip washing her car at a carwash and hid it from the family for a number of weeks just enduring the discomfort. She no more than healed from that and she was moved to Rose Hill to be closer to Cindy and Brad and she fell and broke her femur in a slip and fall. This really set her back as she could no longer care for her flowers or take her dog for a walk.

Eventually, heart “episodes” and congestive heart failure made any activity difficult. In 2025 she was moved to a wonderful assisted living model in Derby (Brookdale). She entertained the nurses with her quick wit and storytelling. She always told me one “little girl” loved to dress her up in the morning like she was a Barbie Doll. She was ecstatic when her latest great-great grandchild, Colter, was born. But her health wouldn’t hold and here we are today.

Gloria was prepared for her final trip. She was anxious to see her mom whom she lost when she was only 32. She shared with Cindy her desire to see the “two Nicholas’” that were grandson’s, Pikeston a great-grandson, Gregory a son she lost shortly after birth but most of all she longed to see Keith, the love of her life. 

We don’t feel sorry for mom, she is where she wanted to be, with Dad and all of her loves. We feel sorry for all of us as a wonderful gal was taken away. We must remember, the day will come when we will hear her telling another of her stories.

Preceded in death by her parents, Hazen and Ruby Byers; husband, Keith Cox; son, Gregory Cox; grandsons, Nicholas Bradford, Nicholas Cox; great grandson, Pikeston Laaser and siblings, Sonya Chance and Gary Byers.

Survivors include her children, Terry (June) Cox of Wichita, Rick (Patti) Cox of Haysville, Cindy (Brad) Bradford of Rose Hill, and Chandler (Trish) Cox of Wellington; grandchildren, Gregory (Michelle) Cox, Allison (Tyler) Laaser, Alicia (Josh) Flippin, Bradley (Jennifer) Bradford, Kelli (Josh) Boyle, Ryan Ayala; great grandchildren, Christian (Maddy) McDaniel, Peyton Bradford, Dylan Bradford, Quinton Flippin, Oliver Boyle, Jade Cox, Emi Cox, Aiden Nguyen and great-great grandchildren, Dakota McDaniel, Waylon McDaniel, Violet McDaniel, Colter Cox.

Visitation with family is 5:00 to 7:00 pm Tuesday, September 1, 2026 and funeral service is 11:00 am Wednesday, September 2, 2026 both at Smith Family Mortuary, 1415 N Rock Road, Derby, KS 67037.