Soren F Cox

Soren Franklin Cox peacefully passed away on September 14, 2018 in Provo, Utah at the age of 93. Soren was born in Huntington, Utah on August 4, 1925 to Thomas Franklin and Anna Anderson Cox.

Soren spent his boyhood years in Huntington, Utah before enlisting in the Navy during World War II. After his military service, he served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central States Mission. Following his mission, he graduated from Brigham Young University with a major in English. He married Fern Mary Saunders in 1948 in the Logan Temple, and they reared five children together. After teaching high school for a few years in Nyssa, Oregon, he joined the faculty of Brigham Young University where he continued to serve for the remainder of his career. He received a PhD in Communications from the University of Minnesota.  Soren loved teaching, and his students loved his classes and revered him.  He had a distinguished career including many publications, awards, and leadership roles at BYU and at Nanyang University in Singapore. 

Soren and Fern were completely dedicated to their faith. For Soren, this commitment led to many opportunities to lead in the Church and develop Church curricula and programs. His kind and humble leadership blessed the lives of many at home and across South Asia.

Family love and loyalty were always most important in Soren and Fern’s life. They are the parents of five children:  Mary Christensen (Bryce), Carilee Harper (Kelly), Ann Wakefield (David), Dale Cox (Rhoda), and Paul Cox (Kathy).  They have been blessed with 25 grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren. Soren is survived by beloved sisters Annabelle Kagie, Grace Lance, and Linda Jewkes. He was preceded in death by his wife Fern, sister Joyce Cox, brother Mac Cox, granddaughter Lexi Ritchie, and great-grandson Samuel Harper.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in the Grandview South Stake Center, 1122 Grand Ave., Provo, Utah.  A viewing for family and friends will be held on Friday evening from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State Street, Orem, Utah and on Saturday just prior to the service from 9:30-10:45 a.m. at the church. Interment with military rites will be at the Orem Cemetery. Condolences and remembrances may be sent to the family at sundbergolpinmortuary.com.

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