Ralph Everett Fox was born at home in Fox School District, Mississip-pi County, Missouri, the last of eight children to John Hascal and Hontas Clay (McQuiston) Fox on February 4, 1934, as the depres-sion was in full swing. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Charleston where he was baptized June 6, 1948. He was active
in the youth group there, serving as preacher on Youth Sundays. He was also baritone in the choir, a function he continued at all his church homes.
Ralph had chores with horses and cows, then went to work at age 11 delivering groceries in exchange for food for his own family. Af-ter high school, he worked as accountant for Charleston Livestock Auction for 20 years. Ralph went on to work for a transportation company building sites across the American West, eventually set-tling in Oklahoma City where he operated a car dealership selling Lincolns, Rolls Royce, Ferrari, and others. Later, Ralph operated a silver and china business. He finally retired in 2015 after 70 years of working hard.
Ralph moved to the Ozarks in 2017 to be with his family and was an active member of the St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church. Ralph Fox was a most positive person. He was always ready to com-mend anyone; he was always appreciative. As he faded, he taught us great spiritual lessons of God’s grace, of Christian service, and of making truly important things our priority. Ralph died at home in Hanna, MO, on January 30, 2021, in the arms of his family. Surviving Family
Ralph leaves behind his grandson Benjamin Everett Perkins and his wife Amanda of Lebanon, MO; daughter Diana and her husband Vic Bentele of Hanna, MO; his elder daughter, Lisa Fox of Jefferson City, MO; one sister, Martha Evans of Jefferson City, MO; special nephews and nieces, some of whom he treasured as siblings; and a host of the large Fox family. We will long remember all those great barbecues with homemade ice cream that Ralph made happen for family and friends, and especially his unending kindness and appreciative nature.
Arrangements
A wake will be held at the family home at 29350 Sterling Road, Hanna (rural-Laquey), MO, on Thursday, February 11th from 3 to 8 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Robert Bellarm-ine Catholic Church in St. Robert, MO, at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 12, 2021. Face coverings and physical distancing will be observed.
Family and Friends will gather at McMikle’s in Charleston, MO, at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 13th to process to the family plot for Ralph’s burial.
Memorials
Memorials may be made in Ralph’s honor to the Altar Society of St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church OR to the Youth Group of First Baptist Church at Charleston. Memorials may be left at the church, or mailed to the home at 29350 Sterling Rd, Laquey, MO 65534.
