Mary Elizabeth Delamater Cox

is honored with a Brick from R.T. Cox.

Mary Elizabeth Delamater Cox was born in Fort Smith, Kansas on February 10, 1909, to her parents Ione and Irving Delamater. She was the granddaughter of E. I. Spencer, a Wichita businessman, inventor, and owner of the first automobile in Sedgwick County, Kansas.

The family moved shortly after her birth back to Wichita, Kansas, where Mary Elizabeth attended public schools and graduated from Wichita State University in 1921 with honors. While at Wichita State University she was active in campus affairs, including the League of Women Voters, Eastern Star, Wichita University Mortar Board, and the American University Women. After her graduation, she worked for Stephen's Dairy in Wichita as a home economist.

Mary Elizabeth was married to Francis Cox in 1935, and they had one daughter, Marilyn, and two sons, Terry and Tom, along with five grandsons.

The Cox's moved to Springfield, Missouri, in 1941, where Francis Cox continued his career as a postal inspector. Mary Elizabeth was a professor at Drury College, teaching home economics for 12 years. She conducted a very popular daily television show on KTTS TV for 12 years - The College of Cooking.

She was listed in Who's Who of American Women, and in 1966 was chosen "Woman of Achievement" by the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. In 1966, Mary Elizabeth and her husband moved to St. Louis, Missouri. While in St. Louis, she served as Director of Quality Control for the Miss Hullings restaurant chain. Mary Elizabeth and her husband retired in 1971, and the couple returned to Springfield briefly before moving to Branson, Missouri, where they maintained a second home for many years.

While in Branson, Mary Elizabeth was active as a member of the First Presbyterian Church, member of the Taney Hills Library Club, the Hills and Lakes Garden Club, the Skaggs Auxiliary and the Branson Chapter of the PEO, along with the Republican Women's Club and the Christian Women's Club. Other activities in Branson included AAUW, Branson Chapter of Eastern Star, and the League of Women Voters. Throughout her life, Mary Elizabeth Delamater Cox was committed to community service and was a devoted wife and mother to her husband and children.

September 5, 1998