Alonnia Cox Obituary

SUMMITVILLE, IN – Alonnia "Ricky" (Kelley) Cox, 82, met Jesus face to face on Monday, July 7, 2025, following an extended illness.

She was born on December 24,1942 in Summitville to John Porter and Wilhelminia (Cummings) Kelley and was a lifetime a Summitville resident. She was a graduate of Summitville High School-Class of 1961. In her early years, Ricky worked at several area restaurants. She held various jobs down through the years such as the Elwood Canning factory, Allen Turkey Farm and the Gaither Warehouse. She managed the kitchen at the Jonesboro American Legion-Post 95 for some time. Ricky enjoyed fishing, boating and dancing with her husband "Pete." She was an excellent seamstress and loved crocheting. The time she spent with her family was most precious to her.

The following is a beautiful tribute to her grandmother, lovingly written by Shelby Hintz.

"The final chapter of an epoch of the ages closed today, and with her passing also comes the close of an entire generation in our family.

She came from humble roots. The stories of her childhood were like tales of a different time, like the shows on local TV that switched from black and white to color later in the season. Because of - not in spite of - her roots, she was always full of gratitude, and generosity that she outpoured on everyone in her life. She knew what it meant to struggle and have hard times, and she didn't stand for watching others struggle if she could do something about it. She and our grandpa housed and fed their kids and grandkids when we had no place to go and nothing to eat, they clothed us when we had no money. They paid for our cars and phones so we could work and commute, and they made sure we were taken care of.

She was hot-tempered and stubborn, especially in her youth. She wouldn't have hesitated to flatten someone out on the ground if it was warranted (and most of the time, let's be honest, it was). And she was also kind. She stood up for what she believed was right, and she protected those who could not protect themselves.

She loved having fun. She dealt cards faster than I'd ever seen anybody do in real life, and she could whoop anybody at any game. Grandpa would always jokingly accuse her of cheating, and I had to start agreeing at some point! She'd just laugh, because deep down we all knew she'd never do that.

She was incredibly stylish. Her hair and nails were always done; her earrings matched her necklaces. Her clothes were always styled; even if she was gardening or out on the beach, fishing and sweltering under the sun, they always had some kind of theme. Each of her rings had a story. She'd take them off in an instant and filet the fish Grandpa caught though. She was a tomboy, and she was a girly girl. Despite all of her style and finery, she hated being on camera. She didn't like to look at herself and she strongly rejected vanity.

From a young age, I adored her love story with my grandpa. Two people who got a second chance at love, who knew within weeks they were meant for each other, who spent fifty-five years together, had three children and raised countless others, and walked through every type of weather.

It's difficult to watch someone you love so much bury their spouse, and my heart was broken for her the day that my grandpa passed away. Their relationship was undeniable and so special. I often reflect on the five years she spent without him; a woman who lost so many of her friends, her parents, her daughter, her husband, her little brother. She sat at so many funerals, said so many goodbyes, and yes, she had her days; and yet, there was the incredible composure she kept, the gratitude for life she continued to have.

I know she was not scared of death, because she told me so. And although my heart is broken today, I find peace in the knowledge that she is not laying down and saying "Goodnight, Pete" to his picture before spending another night alone. In fact, I don't think they will sleep at all tonight, because they have a lot of dancing to catch up on up there, and I wouldn't blame them either if they lost track of the time.

Twelve years ago, we stood outside the hospital one night, and she wiped my tears away and told me not to cry. She told me to look up because when she's not there to do it, the angels will brush my tears away. One month ago, I sat at her bedside, and she knew she didn't have long, but she gave me a hard look as she pointed at me, and told me not to cry.

And tonight, I look up and I let her brush my tears once more, even though I can hear loud and clear what she'd have to say to me about that. She and my grandpa are together again, and maybe in the morning they'll go fishing with her daddy and her brother, and tomorrow we won't cry, and instead we'll find it in ourselves to rejoice in her victory, finally. After all this time.

Survivors:

Son-Roy Cox (Kathy Purtee) of Summitville

Daughter-Rhonda (Don) Hintz of Anderson

5 Grandchildren-Veronica (Mykal) Martin, William (Frida) Cox, Alyssa Rye (Hannah), Brian Lamey (Kayla Douglas)

Shelby Hintz (Noah Brunnemer)

2 Great-Grandchildren-Vincent and Inara

Sister-in-law-Rachel Kelley of Summitville

Several nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Roy "Pete" Cox in 2020, her daughter-Alonnia Renae Davis in 2017, her brother-John Robert Kelley in 2024, Grandson-Vincent Michael Rye in 1992.

Services honoring Ricky's life and legacy will take place at 1 pm on Friday, July 11, 2025, in the Owens Funeral Home, 412 North Harrison Street, Alexandria with Rev. John Foster officiating. Interment will follow in Vinson Memorial Cemetery in Summitville. Friends may call at the Owens Funeral Home on Thursday from 4 pm to 6 pm or after 12 noon on Friday prior to the service.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Alpha-1 Foundation on-line at https://alpha1.org/ or envelopes will be available at the funeral home.