COX: Laval Oswald Cox passed away peacefully at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on Thursday, September 28, 2006. A time of visitation will take place at Memories Chapel, 330-18th Street North on Saturday, September 30, 2006 from 1:00p.m. - 2:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will take place at Justice Mennonite Church, Justice, Manitoba, on Sunday, October 1, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. Donations in memory of Laval may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 3-824-18th, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 5B7. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com Arrangements are with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330.



COX: Laval beloved husband of Dorothy passed away at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on September 28, 2006 of unconfirmed West Nile virus. Laval was born on the home farm near Justice on September 21,1920, the seventh child, and youngest son of Herb and Nellie Cox. He attended school in Justice then quit during the depression to go work on several farms in the area to help out the family. Times were tough then and he even rode the rails once but only got as far as Rivers. He loved hunting and trapping. He managed to get a single cylinder Harley and used that to get around and also to bring home the rabbits that he caught. After a few years working on farms he went to work for Frank Lawson and Sons, first delivering groceries on their Harley motorcycle (which he later bought) and then in their parts department where he helped move them from their location on Pacific Avenue (the basement of the present Christie's School Supply) to their 9th Street location. Believe it or not he could even start those old John-Deere's -an experience he gained from working on the farm for Gordon Wood. In 1941 he joined the Canadian Army and went overseas in 1942. There he became a motorcycle instructor (what else?) and later an army mechanic. On his return home in 1946 he worked in Mac Swalwell's garage for two years. Here he bought a welder (one of the first in the district), and an old wrecked Dodge car, and used the motor on the welder. In 1948, he married Dorothy Frost of Elm Creek. To go on their honeymoon he took the Dodge motor and a new chasis and put a Plymouth Coupe body on it- and voila- a car! And away they went. Necessity is the mother of invention. In 1949 he bought the PSV trucking business from Gib Gillespie. He never tired of telling stories of his adventures, - and misadventures- with the truck. He knew every farm and farmer for miles around. He had trips as far as Nova Scotia in the east and Boston Bar, B.C. in the west. And some time between trips to Winnipeg he managed to build his house in Justice. He served the area for 29 years. Laval was always community minded being a founding member of the Justice Community Club serving on the board for many years and helping out in any way he could. He helped build the Justice Curling Rink in 1948 and in later years he flooded the rink, not his favorite job as he hated the cold. He was leader of the Justice Cubs and once took them on a camping trip and it rained and the creek nearly flooded them out. He was a member of the Justice United Church Board and served as Chairman of the board for several years. He loved playing hockey and in his boyhood years he would run across to Justice from the farm to play on an outdoor rink at the school grounds which his father had helped build. As he got older he was a member of the Justice Hockey Team and played goalie. After the war he helped build an outdoor rink next to the curling rink and there were many skirmishes there on Sat. and Sun. afternoons. He also loved baseball and played on the Justice Men's team for many years, then he was "promoted" as an old-timer on a slow pitch team of much younger players which included his daughter and playing at the same time were his grandsons, - three generations playing together.
His love of hockey and baseball continued as he took his own boys to play their games, and then was always on hand to watch his grandsons when they were playing. He was a great family man, taking a keen interest in his children and grandchildren. He was always willing to give a helping hand when he could, but being an independent spirit, he never wanted to ask anyone for help. He always had an interest in old farm engines and tractors and was a founding member of the Pioneer Power and Equipment Club. It was one of his greatest pleasures to be with like-minded men interested in restoring and preserving the history of life in the past. He enjoyed taking part in their show, as well as going to many other shows. He loved working on old engines and restored many, but his pride and joy were his two Morris Minor cars. His grandson took him on one last ride in his convertible to his final resting place on October 1, 2006. Laval is survived by his wife Dorothy of 58 years, sons Larry (Linda), Herb (Linda), daughters Rosalie (Wally) Bieganski, Heather (Brad) Burtnick and by grandchildren Jeffrey (Sheri) and Elin (Andrew) Bieganski; Dallin (Janelle), Carla (Broc) and Calvin Cox; and Marshall and Candace Cox. By two sisters Elsie (Wilfred) Reid and Cynthia (Doug Pigg) Swalwell, brothers in-law Doug (Hazel) Frost, Sidney (Olive) Foote, Oliver Hodge and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, Herb and Nellie Cox, his brothers, Jim, Clarence and Howard; his sisters Eura and Grace; his grandsons Stefan Cox and Andrew Bieganski; sisters-in-law Donalda Cox, Frances Armstrong and Roberta Hodge; brothers-in-law Charlie Ames, Tom Gillespie, Harry Miller, Melfort Swalwell and Kelly Armstrong.
Funeral services were held at the Justice Mennonite Church on October 1, 2006. Following lunch he was buried by his family at Sparling Cemetery. Donations in memory of Laval may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 3-824-18th, Brandon, Manitoba R7A 5B7.Memorials
Heart & Stroke Foundation of Manitoba