Roscoe Earl Cox IV's Obituary
Roscoe Earl (RE) Cox IV, 55, died unexpectedly of cardiac arrest on September 13, 2023. RE was born October 18, 1967, in Fort Worth, Texas to R. E. Cox III and Lynne Cox Shryoc. RE was a remarkable individual whose presence brought joy, laughter and warmth to the lives of all who knew him. He had an insatiable curiosity and thirst for knowledge that guided him through his life. RE was a graduate of the Selwyn School in 1986 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Austin College in 1992 where he worked with internationally acclaimed sculptor Joseph Havel. He worked for American Financial Services and Dallas World Aquarium, all the while pursuing his passion for art.
RE’s fall from a grain silo in June 1987 forever altered his body and life. After miraculously surviving the terrible accident, he attributed his endurance to his faith in Jesus and remained thankful to God throughout his life. The 100’ drop from the tower did not stop him from anything – work, play, or crafting provocative art form. His artistic talent was seen through his sculptures and drawings: creations with the sustained power to evoke emotion related to his body broken. He actively transformed the pain and general suffering that arose from across his body into the stuff of powerful protean form. His eventual loss of part of one leg gave rise to a prosthetic, which sent him down the path of evermore eldritch limb-based artwork. Fake legs and feet became his art-gear. Going to see clinicians was like going to the art supply store for RE, as he amassed a great stockpile of artificial leg components from all of his doctor visits. He interlaced prosthetic leg components into linear, upright, and stacked totems and stuffed Jobst compression hose with materials ready-at-hand, creating plump pink creaturely forms of various sizes. There was much humor in RE’s art. With it, he made light of the disaster of his youth that shaped his adult life. A carefully lit yardstick standing upright wearing a fluorescent pink wig in the corner made one giggle. Such pieces shape-shifted since he recycled materials, always putting things together in different ways. Tragically, his death happened exactly when he had organized his home studio with perfection. The work of his mentor Havel shaped his approach to sculpture.
RE was also well read. He loved language and classical music. A bon vivant, he enjoyed jubilantly yelling out bits of spoken-word poetry and watching symphonic performances on his large-screen TV with close friends. RE’s greatest masterpiece was his unwavering love for his family and friends. His kindness and sense of humor, intelligence and passion characterized his beauty as a person. His legacy will live on in the hearts of those he leaves behind.
He is survived by his family: R.E. Cox III and Kay Escott Cox of Fort Worth, Melissa and Nick Manos of Dallas, Maria and Archie Stringer of Brandon, MS. Nieces and nephews: Allie, Peter, Addie and Michael Manos of California, Step-siblings: Cindy and Bob Park of Lubbock, Sharon and Rick Neves of Fort Worth, Susan West of Fort Worth, Robert and Trudy Shryoc of California. Cousins: Margaret and Jay Scheideman of Fort Worth, Elizabeth & Joel Simmons of Granbury. Predeceased by his mother, Lynne Cox Shryoc and his uncle, Elray Howard.
A memorial service will be held in his honor on Friday, October 13th at 10:30am in the Elizabeth Cramer Chapel at Arborlawn United Methodist Church, 5001 Briarhaven Road in Ft Worth, Texas.
Contributions can be made in honor of RE Cox IV to the Modern Art Museum or the Kimbell Art Museum of Fort Worth.
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