Mabel Eileen (Bean) Cox

Mabel Eileen Bean Cox, age 92, of Martinsville, IL passed away softly at 9:02 a.m., CST on Saturday, August 27, 2022 at her home surrounded by her daughter Gail, granddaughter LA, and her loving caregivers. She was born on December 17, 1929 in rural Clark County, IL, the only child of “Newt” Bean and Ethel Irene Boney Bean. On January 4, 1948 she married Howard Victor Cox and they were happily married for sixty-eight years at the time of Howard’s passing on August 24, 2016.

Howard and Mabel raised six children, Brenda, Sandy, Mike, Gail, Paul, and Rob. On September 28, 2011, their beloved son, Paul Russell Cox passed away. Mabel also had five grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, two step grandchildren, and three step great grandchildren. Mabel’s caregivers who became her extended family including her loving granddaughter, LesleeAnn, JeanAnn Hollis, Bethanie Colman, Lesa Morrill, Hope Nelson, Mollie Rodebaugh, and Siera Sanchez who loved her dearly and devoted their lives to her care and happiness.

Mabel was a 1946 graduate of Martinsville High School, graduating two years ahead of her intended graduation class because of her exemplary academics. By her classmates, she was given the nickname “Beanie.” She was a member of the Library Staff during her senior year sharing her love for books. Mabel was an avid reader, sometimes reading up to three to four or more books daily and rereading all the books she owned. She never missed an episode of Wheel of Fortune and especially enjoyed the game show Jeopardy! She always loved the challenge of answering the questions and/or solving the puzzles! Mabel’s true passion were her vast gardens and including her numerous beautiful flower gardens.

Howard and Mabel attended Church weekly, never missing a Sunday. They attended Pleasant Hill Christian Church in rural Kansas, IL for many years. Mabel read her Bible daily and studied her Sunday Class lesson intensively on Saturday evening. Mabel farmed her entire life along with her parents and Howard, even in her last few years, on days when she was especially lucid, she would always ask about the “crops.” She also worked at TRW for 10 years and Pap R Products for twenty years. For many years, she also sold Avon. Along with Howard, they were janitors of the North Center Country Grade School just a stone throws away east of their home. Mabel was also a substitute school bus driver while Howard was farming. From the farm, they also sold fresh eggs and strawberries. In her retirement years, Mabel worked alongside her good friend, Barb Hills in her flower shop which was in Martinsville.

Mabel was also known countywide for her amazing cooking skills; she poured her love into preparing meals for the farmers and her family. Christmas was Mabel’s favorite holiday and she would have the countertops filled, on the front porch and on the kitchen counters with her Christmas candy and baked goods. Mabel continued her family’s tradition of the “soup supper” on Christmas Eve. She took her homemade recipes of her coleslaw and ham salad to the grave. No one could duplicate these recipes even when they tried, her love was the ingredient that made each recipe perfect.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 3, 2022 at the Greenwell Funeral Home with Mr. Russell Witmer officiating. Burial will follow in the Ridgelawn Cemetery, Martinsville, IL. Pallbearers will be Ron Simonton, Jake Rhodes, Jordan Simonton, Kim Cooper, Cody Blankenbeker, and James Hollis; Honorary Pallbearers are LesleeAnn, JeanAnn Hollis, and Bethanie Colman. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. prior to the service at Greenwell Funeral Home, 30 N. Washington St., Martinsville, IL.

To view the obituary, send a condolence message, light a candle, share a memory, or post photos, visit www.markwellfuneralhome.com. Greenwell Funeral Home of Martinsville, IL is in charge of the arrangements.

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