Marie Cox

Marie Cox

Marie Cox — born Jacobsen — was born in Rabbit Lake, Saskatchewan, to parents Alma and John Peter Jacobsen on February 12th, 1935. Marie was one of six children, but the only girl.

Marie married Don Cox of Turtleford, Saskatchewan in 1960. Together, they moved to Watson Lake, Yukon in 1963, where Don worked many jobs, and Marie worked as the receptionist at the Watson Lake Cottage Hospital, and later Watson Lake General Hospital. Their first daughter, Karen, was born in 1963, and their second daughter, Susan, was born in 1967. Both spent most of their childhoods in Watson Lake, before the family moved to Whitehorse in 1980. While working for Whitehorse Medical Services, she was approached with the opportunity to work at the constituency office for Erik Nielsen, then Yukon’s Member of Parliament and Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister, who’s office was in the Horwoods Mall. Marie loved this job, because it gave her the opportunity to help people. While there, she made lasting friendships, including Ed Sumner and, now Yukon’s Senator, Pat Duncan.

When political tides changed, Marie retired, but not for long. A chance encounter with an old friend on the banks of the Indian River led Marie and Don to enter the mining business. It didn’t take Marie long to acquire a case of Gold Fever. She up and moved to the camp for the summer, the only time she would leave her beloved home on Hyland Crescent for any amount of time. In camp, she was a Jill of all trades, helping in the kitchen, with the clean-ups, and trips to town for shopping. On Fridays, she would pick Don up from the airstrip, and they would work together on the weekends.

When their mining venture ended, Marie’s passion for politics was engaged. She was heavily involved with the Conservative Party and Yukon Party, serving as an important figure in many election campaigns. In 2012, she was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, for her tireless efforts in volunteering.

Above all else, Marie loved her grandchildren. She could be found running around with her granddaughters in earlier times, playing with water guns and loving every minute of it. When her grandsons came along, she thought the best thing in the world was to watch them play hockey and cheer them on.

Marie and Don were an example of enduring love. When Don passed away in 2024, Marie was not ready. She searched for him every day, until she passed away on October 16th, 2025 after a short illness. The family is consoled only by the fact that they are finally reunited.

Marie is survived by daughters Debbie (Wayne), Karen (Don), and Susan (Steve), grandchildren Nicole (Matt), Michelle (Madi), James, Luke and Mark, and great-grandson Bodhi. She is predeceased by husband Don, and brothers David, Roger, Donald, Glen, Alan.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to Karen’s Room at the Whitehorse General Hospital.