Jacob James "Jake" Fox

Jacob James "Jake" Fox, 89, of Tom Fox Street, Morganton, the Oak Hill Community, died Thursday, February 16, 2006 following a period of declining health. Born in Burke County on July 22, 1916, he was a son of the late Thomas Garfield Fox and Mary Ellen Fox. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary L. Harris Fox, two brothers, and four sisters.

Jake was an Army Veteran of WWII and worked for many years in furniture manufacturing and logging. He was an avid bee keeper and was active in the state Bee Keepers Association. For many years he shared his extensive knowledge of bees with the agricultural department of NC State University.

Survivors are sons, James C. Fox of Monroe, NC, Ronnie Fox and wife, Penny, and Thomas A. Fox and wife, Martha, all of Morganton; daughters, Doris Draper Cox of Morganton, Alene Fox Medford and husband, Dalton, of Granite Falls, NC, and Sharon R. Griffin and husband, Wayne, of Morganton; a sister, Alice Lail and husband, Rudolph; twenty-six grandchildren; fifty-five great-children; and a number of nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 19, 2006 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. Ralph May and Mr. Kenneth Medford officiating. Burial will follow in Burke Memorial Park with graveside rites to be performed by the Valdese American Legion Post #234. The family will receive friends Saturday evening at the funeral home from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m.