James D. Fox

James Doyle Fox, of McAllen, Texas, died Tuesday, May 19, 2026, from injuries suffered in a traffic accident in Harrison, Ark., while traveling  to spend time with family. He was 93.

Jim was born Aug. 8, 1932, in Kansas City, MO, to Omer and Alma (Graham) Fox. He graduated from Lathrop High School in 1950 and joined the U.S. Navy, where he was trained as a cryptologist. He later transferred to the U.S. Air Force, continuing to work for national defense decoding foreign communications. He served overseas in the Philippines and Turkey, then served as a recruiter in Kansas City before retiring in 1970.  Upon retirement from military, he enjoyed career stints as a car-transport, cement truck and school bus driver; real estate agent; town constable; and bank manager in Plattsburg, MO., before officially leaving the workforce.

Jim married Shirley (Plaskett) on Sept. 20, 1953, in Kansas City. The couple had three children, all of whom lived abroad with them during military deployments, and who also graduated from Lathrop High School when the family settled back in Missouri. Together, he and Shirley loved to visit new places and engage with people, and they traveled the country for several years until Shirley’s death in 1996.

Jim was an active member of the American Legion and the Shriners. He was a member of the Legion of Honor in various Shriners clubs over many years, and achieved 3rd degree Mason status at the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Alamin Temple in Corpus Christi, TX. He was especially devoted to The Order of Quetzalcoatl, colloquially known as the "Q”. Jim devoted countless hours and personal support to the Shriners, transporting children to hospitals and serving in numerous positions of leadership in the organization.  He was a lifelong member of the American Legion and the VFW.

He purchased a seasonal home in McAllen in 2002, after he met and married Maureen (Harder).  Together, they continued to travel throughout all of North America. Maureen passed away in 2019.

Jim lived a vibrant life in the McAllen area, volunteering weekly at the VA Clinic where he enjoyed "pushing the old people around.” He  returned to his hometown  often in the summer to volunteer to maintain the Antique Fairgrounds and help with other civic activities. He loved dancing and did so every week. Along with his friend and partner Beverly Oby of Faribault, Minn., whom he met after Maureen’s death, Jim could frequently be found at the Riverside Club along the Rio Grande River on Sunday afternoons, enjoying food and country dancing with friends. In his downtime, he loved old Western movies, or ‘horse-pooters’ as he called them.

Jim was an expert Ham radio operator, a hobby he practiced even while traveling the country. An array of antennas made his beloved pickup and Avion camper trailer an unmistakable sight. On long journeys, when he wasn’t listening to a Willie Nelson song, Jim connected via shortwave radio with other members of the Kadiddlehoppers Amateur Radio Club.

Jim always quipped that he took life “one day at a time, one step at a time”.  He took pride in keeping his daily, weekly, and yearly schedules, but he also reminded his loved ones that life is best lived “footloose and fancy free”.

He is survived by two daughters, Cheri (David) Messick of Cameron, Wis., and Nancy (John) Horn, of Gower, MO; a son, Stephen, and partner Robin Quinn, of Hollister, MO.; six grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and many devoted nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Shirley, his second wife Maureen, a brother, Fritz Fox,  sister-in-law Ginny Fox and son-in-law Michael Anhorn.

Services for James will be Saturday, June 13, 2026, Stith Funeral Home, 901 Clinton St., PO Box 13, Lathrop, MO 64465, with visitation at 10 am and the funeral at 11 am. Burial will be in Lathrop Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the Antique Fair Grounds, Lathrop.

The family prefers memorials to The Order of Quetzalcoatl. Donations can be sent in James' name to: Supreme Q Transportation, Office Manager, P.O. Box 547, Fenton, MO 63026

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