Posted: Mar. 9, 2019 7:50 pm

RALLS COUNTY -- Retired Missouri Department of Conservation Agent Mike Christensen, who worked in Pike County, Mo., said the death of Christopher "Chris" Cox will be felt throughout the conservation movement in Northeast Missouri, including at this year's MDC-sponsored Girls' Camp at Mark Twain Lake.

"Chris liked to reach out to the kids, and he was like the superstar of that camp," Christensen said. The three-day camp provides girls between the ages of 11 and 15 an opportunity to learn firearm safety, water safety, lessons on using a bow and arrow, canoeing, fishing and cooking wild game.

"That camp was something that Chris was heavily involved with and that he just loved to be a part of," Christensen said.

Christopher Cameron Cox, 57, of New London, died Thursday, March 7, at his home. He had been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer. A visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 11, at the James O'Donnell Funeral Home in Hannibal. A rosary service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 12, at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Hannibal. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Cox had been employed with the MDC for over 30 years. Since 1996, he had served as an MDC conservation agent. For the last 20 years, Cox had been assigned to Ralls County.

Colleague Randy Doman said Cox came to love the rolling hills of Ralls County's Mississippi River Valley.

"I think he settled in here really quickly," Doman said. "He loved his work. He truly was a light to the world, to the community and to the conservation department. He was very concerned about protecting the outdoors for the current generation, but also for the generation that is going to be reading your newspaper 50 years from now. He worked every day to protect the natural resources of Ralls County and Northeast Missouri."

Doman said he came to know Cox during their time as candidates in the conservation department's training program. The pair was initially assigned to two counties in Missouri's Ozark region. They later were assigned to Northeast Missouri, where Doman served as one of Cox's supervisors.

"He was a wonderful conservation agent," Doman said. "He had a passion, a love, for everything involving the outdoors."

Lewis County Conservation Agent Jason Vaughn, who will serve as a pallbearer at Tuesday's funeral, said people were drawn to Cox.

"At work, Chris was never the kind of person who sought the limelight," Vaughn said. "People were drawn to him, and I think it had to do with his sense of humor and his storytelling."

Outside of work, Vaughn said Cox was content to sit in the bleacher seats of the Hannibal Hoots baseball team's home games at Clemens Field in Hannibal, Pepsi Arena on the campus of Quincy University or the cushioned seats of Quincy Community Theatre.

"He loved going to baseball games. I mean, he liked sports in general," Vaughn said. He added later that he would miss Cox's friendship.

So will the Rev. Mike Quinn of Holy Family Parish in Hannibal.

Quinn said Cox's death would have a significant impact on the community of faith, which Cox was a part of for many years.

"He was someone who was always here," Quinn said. "I could tell you exactly what pew, what section of that pew, he and his wife sit in. He had recently joined a men's Bible study group. He will be missed by many of us."

Cox had a passion for his church, which was deeply rooted in his spirituality, Quinn said.

"Chris recognized that part of his job was to protect God's beauty, and he was so connected to nature that I think it gave his work and his life more meaning," Quinn said.