Gerald Loraine Cox

Gerald Loraine Cox, 87, Passed away November 13, 2023, due to Alzheimer related conditions.

He was born November 14, 1935, in St. George, Utah, to V. Loraine Cox and Anna Carter Cox

He married Nancy E. Anderson in November of 1954 in the St. George Temple.  They later divorced and he married Deanna Henderson on June 23, 1992. Later, they were sealed for Time and Eternity in the St. George Temple.

Gerald was raised in St. George where he helped his Grandmother Carter with the morning chores before school. He milked the cows and gathered eggs then walked to the Woodward Building for school. As he grew older, he helped his father haul fuel for McCords Service. One trip to California he was 14 years old and drove the fuel truck from LA to St. George. He wasn’t tall enough in the seat, so he placed a brick on the gas pedal to make it home. 

While attending Dixie High School, he joined the Utah National Guard and later enlisted in the Army. After his service he came back to St. George and worked for Eric Snow at Snows Furniture where he learned to lay carpet and flooring.

Gerald decided to attend Dixie College and later Southern Utah University where he graduated with his Teaching Certificate. He later completed his master’s degree at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. This is where he came up with the idea to open his own restaurant.

Gerald taught grade school at East Elementary for 25 years, where he was known as the “teacher to have”. He was a favorite among the kids with all the projects he would do.  Launching rockets, tooling leather, paper mache and many other art projects.  He loved playing the guitar for the students and they loved his songs.

While teaching school, he was called to be Scout Master in his LDS Ward.  This was a love of his to teach the boys to better themselves in life.  He was a successful Scout Master and had many teenagers obtain their Eagle Badge.

Gerald found teaching to be easy, so he decided to do something hard: open a restaurant that he had been dreaming about for years. 

The Brandin’ Iron was his pride and joy. He loved cooking the best steak in Southern Utah and seeing all the customers come in. After cooking their meal, he would “make the rounds” and personally greet them to make sure everyone was happy. Gerald ran the Brandin’ Iron for 40 years and loved every minute of it. After marrying Deanna, they successfully ran the restaurant together for 25 years. They would travel in the months the Brandin’ Iron was closed and explore the antique shops along the way.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Deanna, his children, Lisa (Kent) Provstgaard, Jeff (Raquel) Cox, DuRae (Cindy) Cox, and Rochelle (Ted) Hurst, his sister, Sylvia Ence and brother, Jim (Ramona) Cox, 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. He helped raise and is survived by many of his nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his sisters, Loretta and Joanna, brother-in-law, Quentin Ence, son, Gary Lee, and nephew, Loraine Farnsworth.

The Family would like to thank the Veterans Home and staff for the loving care they have provided for Gerald the last year and a half. Also, to the Nurses in the Hospice program.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, November 20, 2023, at 11:00 am, at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, Utah.

Visitations will be held on Sunday, November 19, 2023, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm, and again on Monday, from 9:30 – 10:30 am, prior to services.

Friends and family that are unable to attend the services in person are welcome to view them virtually by clicking on the link below:

Spilsbury Livestream Link

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff Street, St. George, Utah, 435-673-2454.

Family and friends are invited to sign Gerald’s online guest book at www.spilsburymortuary.com