Lewis Leroy Cox

Lewis Leroy Cox was born June 12, 1939, in Tacoma, WA, to Joseph and Eleanor Cox. On May 14, 2025, he tragically died in an auto accident in Fife, WA.

Lew enjoyed the 1950s with rolled-up cuffed jeans, a duck-tailed haircut, cigarettes in his sleeves, and a fast '57 Chevy. When asked how he knew all the streets in South King and Pierce counties, he would say, “had a girlfriend down that street”. Lew attended Catholic parochial schools but graduated from Stadium High School. His early years were spent at his family’s cabin on Mason Lake, where he enjoyed boating and water skiing on his O’Brien ski.

Throughout Lew’s life, he held many jobs, such as working in a shoe store, a produce market, at Boeing, in real estate, and driving various tankers and trucks, even on the Alyeska Pipeline. He discovered the great benefits of vitamins and supplements, so he founded Federal Way House of Health. Eventually, his dedicated employee, Marlene Beadle, bought the store and started Marlene’s Market and Deli in Federal Way and Tacoma.

The thrust of Lew’s life changed when he committed his life to Jesus Christ while driving down Pacific Highway. He soon had a heart to serve on the mission field, so he developed Islands Evangelism Ministries, taking the gospel to the small, unreached islands of the Philippines. He was also doing prison ministry at Walla Walla Penitentiary during this period. Upon his return from his last trip to the Philippines, he answered his office phone, and his son, Darren, relayed that his 22-year-old daughter, Carmon, had been murdered two days earlier. He picked up a broom, and sweeping, he said, “God use me, God use me.” Again, his ministry focus changed, and he founded Violent Crime Victim Services. For the next 30 years, Lew’s passion was to walk alongside over 1000 homicide bereaved families by leading a support group, attending hearings, and court trials.

In 2000, Lew became a volunteer Chaplain with the Des Moines, WA, Police Department. In 2001, he was called to serve as a Chaplain at Ground Zero in New York City during Christmas week, supporting first responders and grieving families visiting the site.

After Lew left Violent Crime Victim Services, he spent a year ministering to homeless Veterans in Tacoma. He used the Kentucky Fried Chicken for” his office,” and he listened as Vets shared their heartaches and areas of struggle. During this time, he created Lew Cox Ministry/Training and Consulting Services, training church staff on how to minister to members experiencing traumatic grief.

Outside of ministering to people, Lew, in his early years, enjoyed handball, racquetball, and developed a 40-year passion for tennis. He was proud of earning his private pilot’s license, taking family and friends on floatplane adventures. In more recent years, Lew enjoyed target practicing and visiting the car and flight museums with family and friends.

Lew is predeceased by daughter, Carmon Cox, and son, Darren Cox, and survived by his wife, Suzanne, daughters Laura Lloyd (Russ), Casey Haas (Troy), granddaughters Ariella Lloyd, Paige Lewin, and great-grandson, Jayden Lloyd. Also, he is survived by his brother, Joe Cox (Jane), and many extended family members.

We thank God for the gift Lew was to our family and the community. He will be greatly missed.

A memorial service will be held on August 22, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Northwest Church, 34800 21st Avenue. SW, Federal Way, WA 98023.