Copperas Cove retired educator, longtime volunteer passes away

By LYNETTE SOWELL 

Cove Leader-Press 

The Copperas Cove community lost one of its longtime volunteers on Saturday, May 27, when Lisa Cox passed away. 

Cox, 61, had a 23-year career as a paraprofessional in the Copperas Cove Independent School district, from 1996-2019. At the time of her retirement, she worked with the youngest students in CCISD as a Special Education paraprofessional.

In addition to working as a paraprofessional, Cox continued to volunteer to help children after her retirement.

“It was always her passion,” said her husband, Robert, who noted that her first position in CCISD was as a Special Reading paraprofessional.

Cox served as the current secretary of the Altrusa International chapter in Copperas Cove, a club of which she had been a member since August 2019. 

She held position of Secretary for the club’s foundation and recently left that position to become club secretary.
“Lisa always had a smile on her face. It didn’t matter if you had just seen her or if it had been several years, you picked up like there hadn’t been any time missed,” said Debbie Llacuna, the most recent club president. “We are going to miss her tremendously. Our prayers for her family and friends.”
Altrusa’s main focus is literacy. Each year, the club distributes a new book to every third grader in CCISD, among the many endeavors in which the club participates.

One thing Cox loved besides her family and friends was helping others, and she believed in the importance of literacy in early childhood. 

Cox also belonged to the “Sole Sisters”, a local group formed in 2014, of women who are determined to stay active, either by walking or running. They gathered regularly to walk, and celebrated milestones together, whether it be birthdays or running and walking accomplishments. 

Jan Ward, one of the Sole Sisters, recently completed the milestone of finishing a half-marathon in all 50 states. For that, Cox was there as well to cheer on her friends. 

Lauren Cain’s, Cox’s daughter, has said that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Cox’s honor to Altrusa of Copperas Cove. 

A come-and-go celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 10, from noon until 4 p.m., at Grace United Methodist Church in Copperas Cove. Guests are requested to wear her favorite color -- purple.