Cox, John

John Arthur Cox, born June 26, 1941, at St. James Hospital in Butte, Montana, lived a life that could only be described as "Butte America" through and through. He passed on March 11, 2026, leaving behind a legacy built on hard work, humor, and a steady presence that anchored both family and community for decades.

The only son among three Irish-Catholic sisters, John grew up in Butte surrounded by strong women who helped shape the man so many would come to know simply as "Coxie." He graduated from Butte High School in 1959 and, without hesitation, entered the United States Marine Corps. A proud Recon Marine, that identity never left him. You could see it in his posture, his high-and-tight haircut, and the way he carried himself with quiet discipline and strength.

John's life was marked by love, family, and a few great adventures. His first marriage to Marilyn brought him his son, John Patrick Cox, and stepdaughter Cheryl, both of whom he loved deeply. John brought him his grandson Tristan. Later, he married Christy "Tee" Cox, they moved to Trinidad, Colorado and opened a bakery. Together they welcomed a daughter, Lura Marie Cox.

After his time in the Marines, John worked as a police officer in Southern California before making his way back home to Butte in the mid-1980s. Back where he belonged, he owned a bakery for a time, then the well-known Club 13 bar, before eventually finding his true home behind the bar at Maloney's.

Maloney's wasn't just where John worked. It was where he became a fixture, a constant, and in many ways, an institution. For more than 30 years, until his retirement in 2017, John tended bar with a no-nonsense approach that was balanced by genuine care. Maloney's, like John, was sturdy, dependable, and always there when you needed it. Open late, even on holidays, it became a second home to many.

As Butte writer Bill Foley said recently, "The regulars at Maloney's became like family. Maloney's was more like Cheers than Cheers, and 'Coxie' was Sam Malone." John poured more than drinks. He offered perspective, accountability, a well-timed reality check, and occasionally, the kind of wisdom you didn't know you needed until you heard it.

Outside his place behind the bar, John loved the outdoors, fishing trips with nieces and nephews, and road trips with his sisters that were equal parts chaos and comedy. He proudly survived Hurricane Wilma in Cancun during one of those sibling adventures, a story he likely told with just the right amount of embellishment.

He had a deep love for animals, especially his black lab Duke, and later, a cat named Vincent who earned a permanent place in his heart.

John was also a thinker, someone who appreciated big ideas and wasn't afraid to challenge people to think for themselves. An avid reader of Noam Chomsky, John epitomized Chomsky's quote: "Nobody is going to pour truth into your brain, it's something you have to find out for yourself."

John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Marie Cox, and his son, John Patrick Cox.

He is survived by his daughter, Lura Marie Cox; his stepdaughter, Cheryl; his grandson, Tristan Cox; his sisters Joan Marie Rodgers, Helen Denise "Desie" Grimes, and Linda and Frank "Weezie" Fellows; along with numerous nieces and nephews who adored their Uncle John. We also mustn't forget his many, many cousins!

A celebration of life will be held on April 11, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Butte, where stories will no doubt be told, glasses raised, and John remembered exactly as he would have wanted.