Maurice Cox, age 92 of Metropolis, Illinois passed away at 3:10 pm on Tuesday, December 25, 2018 at his residence.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 29th, from 10 am to 12 noon at the Aikins-Farmer-Loftus-McManus Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Metropolis Memorial Gardens with military rites.

Maurice was born on June 6, 1926 in Alton, IL and raised in Renshaw, IL. He moved to Chicago at 15, graduated Lane Tech Technical Institute where after he held multiple jobs. Maurice later joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 as a driver of the troop transport ship the USS Pitt in the Pacific, after which he was aboard the Destroyer USS Warrington in the Atlantic. He was injured and was in the military hospital in Pensacola, FL until his honorable discharge on July 29, 1946. He became a machinist for screw companies and was revered all over the country and sought after by many companies. He retired in 1973 with a major back injury. For many years, he played music at the Old Hayloft Tavern in Chicago.

Maurice is survived by his children, Roger Cox and wife Valerie of Carbondale, IL, Irlys Lorkiewicz-Haack and husband David of Romeoville, IL, and Maurice Cox of Grantsburg, IL; grandchildren, Michael Lorkiewicz and wife Rebecca of Lockport, IL, Jessica Hansen of Oscoda, MI, Lance Lorkiewicz and wife Amanda of Romeoville, IL, Maurice Cox III of Riverside, IL, David Cox and wife Samantha of Nashville, TN, Stephanie Alessi and husband Robert of Chicago, IL, Thelma Cox of Duqoin, IL, Maggie Kelley and husband Ryan of Aviano, Italy; great grandchildren, Thomas, Grace and Farrah Lorkiewicz; Noah Sepulveda, Emma Jennings, Alice Kelley, Ellison Cox, and Lilyanna Alessi; sister, Dorothy Cox of Winston Salem, NC; nephew, Herman Privett and wife Sharon of Steele, MO; ex son-in-law, Michael Lorkiewicz; good friend, George Denos; many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Maurice was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Della (Clark) Cox; wife of 58 years, Lena Mae (Mullins) Cox; four siblings, Virgil, Bernice, Raymond, and James Cox.

Memorials may be made in Maurice's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.

Pallbearers will be Mike Lorklewicz, Lance Lorkiewicz, David Cox, Mike Lorkiewicz Sr.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Aikins-Farmer-Loftus-McManus Funeral Home in Metropolis. Online condolences may be left at www.aikinsfarmer-millerfh.com

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105
Tel: 1-800-805-5856
Web: http://www.stjude.org/