Billy Dowde Cox, 82, of Monroe, passed away Saturday, February 11, 2017. He was born August 6, 1934, in Union County, NC, son of the late Eustace Eula Griffin Cox. He was also preceded in death by a great grandson, Eli Nance. Mr. Cox was retired from McDevitt and Street Construction Company in Charlotte where he worked as a Construction Superintendent. He was also a retired Poultry Grower for Tyson Foods. Funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at Smyrna Baptist Church in Pageland, SC with burial to follow in Griffin Family Cemetery. Mr. Cox is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Mary Helen Aldridge Cox, two sons, Roger Cox (Kristi) and Douglas Cox (Crystal) of Monroe, three daughters, Marilyn Williams (Roger) of Monroe, Debbie Bess (Ken) of Marshville, and Judy Rape (Tim) of Monroe, two brothers, Ronald Cox and Larry Cox of Monroe, two sisters, Betty Presson of Monroe and Dianne Mills of Marshville, thirteen grandchildren; Kelly Nance (Bubba), Chad Williams (Jennifer), Jennifer Kessler (Scott), Jeremy Bess, Jarrod Bess (April), Joanna Segee, Travis Cox (Cami), Tiffany Romanello (John), Jonah Rape, Andrew Rape, Trent Cox, Jayde Cox and Kelsey Cox; and twelve great-grandchildren; Levi Nance, Lily Nance, Carleigh Williams, Jaxson Williams, Miriam Kessler, Ezekiel Kessler, Madison Bess, Daphne Bess, Grayslyn Bess, Brynlee Bess, Masyn Segee and Maddax Segee. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Tuesday evening, February 14, 2017, at Gordon Funeral Service, 1904 Lancaster Avenue, Monroe, NC 28112. Memorials may be made to Smyrna Baptist Church, 841 Smyrna Church Road, Pageland, SC 29728 or to Hospice of Union County, 700 West Roosevelt Boulevard, Monroe, NC 28110. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the Critical Care Nurses at Novant Presbyterian-Matthews and Novant Presbyterian Main and to the staff at Hospice of Union County.