Remembering Margie Cox

Last week we lost a treasured member of our VHS family. Margie Cox volunteered and fostered for the VHS (along with her daughter Cheri) for more than 23 years. 

When we look back at our recent history, it’s very difficult to imagine without Margie. In fact, she and Cheri were there the day that we moved into our current facility in June of 2004. Our team of staff & volunteers moved cats first, and the plan was to go back the next day for the dogs. But someone from the group said, “Let’s not wait… let’s go get the dogs!” And off they went. Below is a photo of the Courier & Press article featuring Margie & Cheri loading puppies to bring from the old shelter on Buchanan to the new building on Millner Industrial.

Margie was also an integral part of our pet food pantry, and as one staff member put it, “invested a lot of time and energy to ensure that no animals [in our community] would ever go to sleep with empty bellies.” If you have ever attended our Monday food bank, she likely served you at one point or another.

One staff member said, “Margie was the most giving, caring, and dedicated person - she spent so much of her time focusing on things to help others. I wish I knew the number of animals that Margie and Cheri have helped us to save, because it would be astronomical. Seeing her always made my day brighter and her (sometimes unexpected) sassiness always had me cracking up!”

Another fellow volunteer stated, “Truly the heart of everything. It's not often that someone leaves the world having made it a better place but Margie absolutely did.”

“She was one of the kindest, sweetest people anyone could be lucky to know,” said yet another former staff member, Board member, and volunteer.

We will miss Margie more than words can describe. Our entire team is grateful to have known her and worked alongside her kind, steadfast passion for our community’s animals. Every time we see a Beagle or a Dachshund from now on, we’ll wish she was here to give them a welcoming snuggle. Here are some photos of Margie's many years serving the pets (and people) of the VHS.

View Margie's obituary here.