Saline
On Aug. 30, 1980, in Toledo, Ohio, she married Francis G. Murkowski, and he survives.
Mrs. Murkowski had lived in Saline since 2001. She was a member of St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Saline and a graduate of Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She had a bachelor's degree in teaching.
In addition to her husband, Francis, survivors include two children, Jessica (Charles) Eroh of Saline and Robert E. Murkowski of Saline; her father, Edgar Gardner of Redmond, Ore.; three brothers, Paul (Carol) Gardner of Vancouver, Wash., Edgar (Trina) Gardner of Barto, Pa., and William (Cate) Gardner of Nashville, Tenn.; two nieces; and five nephews.
Mrs. Murkowski was preceded in death by her mother, Jean Gardner.
A beloved wife and mother, she was loved by all who came in contact with her.
Aside from her one true love, her family, she enjoyed time with her dog, Molly, helping others, and a good Italian meal.
Mrs. Murkowski fought for many years against a rare disease, Cowdens syndrome. A tireless advocate for those with the disease, she established and directed the Cowdens Syndrome Foundation.
Mrs. Murkowski was truly an angel that walked the Earth, her family said.
A Mass of the Christian Burial was held Monday at St. Andrew's Catholic Church Saline. The Rev. William J. Stevenson was celebrant. Cremation followed the services.
Arrangements were entrusted to Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home in Saline.
Saline
Mrs. Cox gave the gifts of life — love, music and independent spirit — to her children, Carole (Richard) Murphy, Melissa (Mike) Dotz, and James T. (Carole) Cox III.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her siblings, Betty vanDyke, Frannie Dailey, and Bill Atkinson.
Surviving are her sister, Barb Colburn; her sister-in-law, Virginia Seibert; her children and grandchildren, Richard Murphy III, Patrick Murphy, Elise Murphy, Nathan Dotz, Abby Dotz, Andrew Cox-Quirin, Katherine Cox, and Victoria Cox; many nieces and nephews, as well as several golfing buddies and other friends.
Mrs. Cox will be remembered by many as a woman who gave generously of her time, talent and care, always considerate of the needs and concerns of others. She loved life and always had a positive attitude. She remains an inspiration to those whose lives she touched, her family said.
Mrs. Cox asked that those who prefer to make a donation in her memory do so to Bethlehem United Church of Christ in Ann Arbor or to the Girl Scouts Huron Valley Council.
A funeral will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at Bethlehem United Church of Christ in Ann Arbor, where she was a member. Interment will follow in Fairview Heights, Ill.
The family received friends Wednesday at Muehlig Funeral Chapel in Ann Arbor.
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