Bookard Berry Cox, Jr.

Bookard Berry Cox, Jr. of Amarillo, Texas went to join the Lord in heaven on November 4, 2023, at the age of 98. He was born on a ranch in Sherman County Texas on the 3

rd

of June 1925 to Berry Gideon Cox and Rebecca M Dooley Cox. As a child he lived through the hard times of the Great Depression and in the heart of the Dust Bowl. As a child his earliest years were spent on the LIT Ranch at Tascosa, Texas and then growing up with his grandparents, Bookard Elias Dooley and Hester Dooley and his many uncles on a ranch outside of Sunray, Texas.

He was married on 21

st

of February 1944 at the age of 19 to the love of his life, Thelma Margret Popplewell, in Amarillo, Texas. The day they were married they had to rush back to Sunray so he would work the night shift at the oil refinery. Still a teenager and recently married he saw combat in the jungles of the Philippines and was part of the occupation of Japan. He and Thelma were married for over 79 years. They had two sons, Berry Thomas Cox and Larry Dean Cox.

They moved to Amarillo in 1950 where Berry established a successful paint contracting business. His company painted literally thousands of homes in the Amarillo area over a period of more than 60 years. Many of the homes were built by Dave Cervin, one of Amarillo’s most prolific and quality home builders.

Berry was an avid bowler and was inducted into the Texas Bowling Hall of Fame, the National Bowling Hall of Fame and he won the Amarillo City Championship more than once. He was a role model for fathers, for years he could be seen with a station wagon full of kids being taken to ball practices, games, and movies. He was always the first to step up and help friends, neighbors and those in need. He and Thelma lived in the same house on NE 16

th

street for over 70 years. Initially their home was only 800 sf and with his own hands he took the home to over 4000 square feet of perfection.

These are all things that he did, but he is most remembered as a man that every morning could be seen kissing his wife before heading to work and giving her a kiss and a hug when he came home every day. He was a true joy as a father and a husband.

Berry is lovingly survived by his wife of 79 years; sons, Berry and his wife Dee, and Larry and wife Judy; granddaughter, Channing; grandsons, Cody, and Matthew and his wife Amy; great-grandchildren, Branch, Miles, Grady, Karis and Elizabeth, Ty, Courtney and Claire; great-great-granddaughter, Joy; and great-great-grandson, Beckett.

The family wishes to acknowledge the care and treatments received by Berry from the Amarillo Veterans Administration Hospital and its Community Living Center, Home Care Connections, and the Hero’s organization. The genuine and sincere care provided was always timely and professional. The area VA staff in Amarillo is truly and exceptional organization. The family also would like to express their appreciation to the staff and residents of the Craig Retirement Center in Amarillo. Moving from their home of 70 years was a difficult challenge. However, the staff and residents of the The Craig accepted then with open arms and every day made to feel like they were members of a new and wonderful family. At every turn they were shown warmth, love and acceptance.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M., Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home.

Services will be at 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at the Texas Panhandle War Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.