Funeral Services for Jesse Franklin Cox of Elsberry, MO will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 25, 2025 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. Sammy Lorton, pastor of the Whiteside Holiness Church and Rev. Laura Taylor, pastor of Elsberry United Methodist Church, will officiate. Burial with Full Military Honors will be in Elsberry City Cemetery in Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Terry Cox, Karen Cox, David Ross, Mark Graham, Paul LaBanca and Vickie Ridgel. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be David Cox and Dan Lambert.
 Jesse, 93, was born on February 25, 1932 in Davis, MO, the son of John and Dellia Vaughn Cox. He passed away Friday afternoon, July 4, 2025 at the Cottages of Lake St. Louis, MO. Jesse served his country during the Korean Conflict in the U.S. Army from September 11, 1952 until he was honorably discharged as a Sargent on September 10, 1954. He was united in marriage on October 22, 1955 in Elsberry to Sylvia Ann Emerick. This union was blessed with three children: Allen, James and Ruth Ann. Jesse was employed for 38 years as a machinist at McDonnell-Douglas aircraft manufacturer in St. Louis, MO, retiring in 1993. He also drove the Specialty Transportation Bus from Elsberry to McDonnell-Douglas for many years. He was a member of the Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union #837 in St. Louis. Jesse was a member of the Elsberry American Legion Post #226.
 Jesse was preceded in death by his parents, John and Dellia Cox; one brother, Howard Cox and his wife, Dorothy; and his brother-in-law, LeRoy Colbert.
 Survivors include his beloved wife of 69 years, Sylvia Cox of Elsberry; two sons, Allen Cox of Elsberry, and James Cox and his wife, Sibyl, of Elsberry; and one daughter, Ruth Ann Cox of Nashville, TN. Jesse also leaves one sister, Mary Ruth Colbert of Oregon; several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends.
 Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until time of the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 25, 2025 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.