Fern E. (Pegg) Cox

Fern Eileen Cox, 96, of Elkhart, IN passed away the evening of Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

Fern was born October 29, 1928 in Detroit, MI to the late Elmer J. and Celia R. (Basing) Pegg. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Linda Crosbie, son Howard Cox, sister Mary Ellen Glanders, and brother Lyle Pegg.

She is survived by her loving family: children Harold (Jacki) Cox of Elkhart, Trudy Cox of Elkhart, Sara Cox of South Bend, Donna (David) Casebourn of Indianapolis; an honorary daughter, Brenda Rowe; 5 grandchildren, Laura Gouin of Wauwatosa, WI, Kristi (Andy) Crosbie Defrates of Charlotte, MI, Brian Cox of Elkhart, Ally Collins of Elkhart, Kevin (Adriana) Cox of Fort Wayne, IN; as well as 7 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Fern was a 1946 graduate of Elkhart High School. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950 from Manchester College.

After receiving her degree she was employed as a Civil Service librarian for 6 weeks at Fort Eustis, VA, then on to Camp McCoy, WI.

Fern’s passion in life was doing family history research for her own family and for others. She was a family history consultant for more than 20 years for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Fern was a lifetime member of Elkhart County Genealogy Society. Over the years she held a variety of offices – President, Researcher, and many other offices.

Fern loved to volunteer at the YMCA Senior Center. She loved to travel having visited Germany, Canada, and Switzerland. Fern also traveled to Ireland all by herself for a Family History Conference.

Fern enjoyed a helicopter ride at Mount Rushmore, went hot air ballooning, even had a camel ride. Pastime activities were doing crossword puzzles, reading books, and jigsaw puzzles.

She was a longtime member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Visitation for Fern will be held from 5:00-7:00PM on Friday, June 6, 2025 at Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home, 403 W Franklin St, Elkhart, IN 46516. A funeral service will be held the following day on Saturday, June 7, at 10:00AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel, 3415 Pleasant Plain Ave, Elkhart, IN 46517 with visitation for one hour prior. Following the service, Fern will be laid to rest at Rice Cemetery in Elkhart.

The family would like to thank Elara Caring Hospice for their compassion and care, and Fern’s private caregiver, Crystal Hoover.

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