Robert Dale Fox Jr.

Robert Dale Fox Jr., 60, was born in El Dorado Springs to Robert Fox Sr. and Dora Otilla (Morerod) Fox. on Oct. 29, 1962, and went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Sept. 29, 2023 at 9:30 p.m.

Robert’s dad worked construction and during his childhood and the family traveled around quite a bit moving from town to town following the construction jobs. But in the fall of 1972, his Father was laid off for awhile and so the family moved back to Harwood and Robert began attending Schell City School in the 4th grade that year. In 1981, he graduated as valedictorian of his class.

Upon graduation, Robert was offered scholarships to  the University of Missouri, Southwest Baptist University, MSSC, and SMSU, but Robert felt God calling him in another direction…. Instead of going to college to study veterinary medicine,  which he had considered, upon graduation, Robert started working and began taking Bible College classes.

Robert was a life-long learner and continued his education in Biblical studies until 2016, when he received his Doctorate of Theology from Faith Bible College in Independence.

As a teenager, Robert’s first jobs included working for Floyd Phillips and Dennis McKinney, local farmers.  He also worked for M&M Motor Supply, Crane Plumbing, Fram, and West Central, while at the same time farming in partnership with his Dad. He also served on the Northeast Vernon county school board and as school board President for many years.  Robert became an ordained minister in 1994 and served as an Elder/Pastor of Maranatha Christian Fellowship in Nevada MO until 2006, and as a founding Elder/pastor of Christ’s Church of Nevada from 2009 until his passing.

Robert was a real people person. He loved meeting new people and made friends easily. He loved Jesus and he loved his ministry and he had a heart to see lost hurting people come to Christ. Robert had simple tastes, he loved farming, he loved getting out in nature, walking in the woods, hunting and fishing, and he enjoyed relaxing at home with his family and his dogs, watching westerns and old war movies and drinking lots of iced tea.

Robert married Denise (Custine) on July 11, 1987 in Nevada and God blessed this union with two children, Nathan Robert Fox and Joyce Anna Lorraine Fox.

Robert is survived by his wife Denise, son Nathan and daughter Joyce, of the home, his parents, Robert Sr. and Otilla Fox, Harwood, and one sister, Tammy (Kenneth) McKenzie, of Lansing ,KS., aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and countless friends.

He was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents, numerous aunts and uncles, and a beloved cousin, Mark Morerod.

Robert’s Personal Testimony

Robert was born again at the age of 16 and faithfully served The Lord all the days of his life. The following is his testimony, which he wanted to share with all of you:

I was working for a local farmer and I had been discing all day in the hot sun on an open cab tractor, hot and dusty, but I was looking forward to quitting time and the fact that I had a date that night! Quitting time came and I headed home to get ready for my date! Not a thought in my head about God or eternity or my lost condition, those kind of things were the farthest things from my mind! But I had a Mom who had been praying for me for years, and on my trip home from work that evening, God spoke to me! As I said,  All day long I’d been sitting on that tractor, but my mind was focused on what was going to happen after work!  Quitting time came and I got on my motorcycle and I headed down the gravel road for home! I was heading up a hill when all of the sudden out of nowhere I heard a Voice say “I love you!” I thought maybe I’d been in the sun too long and was hearing things… I kept going but when I topped the hill I heard the Voice again! “I love you!” Immediately, I knew it was God speaking to me and everything suddenly changed for me! I stopped my motorcycle, kicked the gravel to clear a little spot on the road,  and knelt down beside my motorcycle and asked Jesus into my heart. I was 16 years old. I want to say to everyone reading this, giving your heart to The Lord Jesus Christ is the most important decision you’ll ever make in life!

There will be a memorial service for Robert Fox at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, at NEVC Elementary Campus. The address is Second and Hickory Street, Schell City, MO 64783. The service will be live streamed on the Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to a Love Fund for the Fox family.