Clodis Howard Cox

Clodis Howard Cox, 90, passed away March 19, 2014, in Houston, surrounded by friends and family. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Audrey, of Katy; daughters, Barbara Toler and husband Bubba, of Cleveland, and Vicki Clayton and husband Graham, of Spring; 5 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. Services were held Saturday, March 22, 2014, at Katy Church of Christ with committal services on Sunday, March 23, 2014, at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Beaumont. He was a veteran having served in the Army Air Corp as an aircraft mechanic. After the war, Clodis and Audrey returned to Beaumont and worked at M&M Air Service where he became a pilot. In 1953, Clodis moved to Texas Rice Improvement Association, A & M Extension Center, where he worked under Dr. Hank Beachell in the Foundation Seed Rice Program. In 1959, the family moved to Dayton where they resided for 17 years. During that time, Clodis managed Seaberg Rice Company, farmed and raised cattle. He served as an elder in the Dayton Church of Christ, as president of Dayton’s first Drainage District and as president of Texas Certified Seed Producers. In 1975, Clodis and Audrey moved to Katy and opened Cox-Nelson Seed Company. They were founding members of the Katy Church of Christ, where he served as an elder. As they had done for years, Clodis and Audrey continued to work together to build the business and the church. He consulted for Kellogg Company, International Division, to identify the best variety of rice for use in their cereal products. Clodis also worked with farmers in Mexico, Venezuela and Honduras to improve farming techniques, which resulted in a significant increase in production. In 1998, they sold their business and “retired.” Clodis continued to raise cattle and farm until 2010. He remained active and optimistic until his death.