Dorothy Cox

Dorothy Marie (Boots) Cox, age 79, of Moberly, passed away October 21, 2023 at her home after a brief but fierce battle with pancreatic cancer. She was surrounded by many who loved her.

Dorothy was born in Moberly, MO on July 17, 1944 to Roy T Boots and Anna E (Massman) Boots. She attended Immaculate Conception School through eighth grade and was a 1962 graduate of Moberly High School. She also earned a degree from North Central Missouri College in the late ‘80s.

Dorothy was a member of St Pius X Catholic Church.

She was formerly married to Fred Bowden of Cairo, MO. Shortly after their marriage in 1963, they moved to Trenton, MO where they had three children.

Dorothy married the love of her life, Donnie Cox, on February 14, 1992. They lived and worked together on his farm in Jamesport, MO. Through their marriage, Dorothy gained a stepson and his family. Donnie passed in 2010, and in 2020 Dorothy moved back to her hometown, Moberly, MO, where she lived until her death.

Prior to her retirement, Dorothy spent many years working as a teacher’s aide at S M Rissler School in Trenton, from 1978-1989, and Tri-County Schools in Jamesport, from 1993-2013. She also worked at Green Hills Community Action Agency in Trenton from 1989-1992.  

Dorothy enjoyed gardening and always had a beautiful yard. She loved watching and feeding birds, especially martins, hummingbirds, and wrens, reading, visiting her public local library, adventures with Jane, and attending her grandchildren’s various events. She loved all animals, and over the years, she had several dogs that she enjoyed spoiling. She and her German Shepherd, Adam, walked almost every day until he passed just a few months before her. Dorothy was a big fan of the KC Chiefs, Missouri Tigers, and of any team her grandkids played, especially the Trenton Bulldogs and Fulton Hornets.

Dorothy will be remembered for her sweet disposition and beautiful smile, even through difficult times. Her family will miss her constant love and support.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Anna and Roy Boots; husband, Donnie; son, Kevin Bowden; sister, Judy Foos; sister-in-law, Isabella (Billy) Boots; and brother-in-law, Jack (Connie) Burton.

She is survived by her children, Jeff (Pam) Bowden of Trenton and Sara (John) DeFily of Fulton; step-son, David (Toni) Cox of Jamesport; grandchildren, Chase Bowden of Eugene, Oregon, Randy, Matthew, and McKenna Bowden of Trenton, Anna and Gabe DeFily of Fulton, Savannah (Reid) Gillaspie of Kansas City, and Kaley and Megan Cox of Jamesport; siblings, William Boots of Vicksburg, MS, Robert (Bonnie) Boots and Connie Burton of Moberly; brother-in-law, Ivan Foos of Moberly; many special nieces and nephews and other extended family and many good friends, especially the “coffee ladies” from Trenton and her neighbors and childhood friends from Moberly.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Dorothy’s honor are suggested to the Moberly Animal Shelter, l

Words of comfort and support were shared with the family at a visitation, held at the Cater Funeral Home Chapel.  A Mass of the Resurrection was held at the St. Pius X Catholic Church. Committal prayer and burial will take place at a later date.