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Gordon Cobb, beloved family man and one of the hardest working construction workers and farmers in Nicholasville, died February 19, 2022, at the Albert B. Chandler Hospital at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Resulting from a brain injury suffered from a roof fall while working with his son on November 19, 2021, he was 78 years old.
The youngest of six children of H.T. and Thelma Hager Cobb, Gordon was faithful to his rural upbringing in the Chrisman Mill Road area he so loved. Taught early on the value of hard work and to appreciate the blessings of life, he never wavered in his deep convictions toward honesty, integrity, faith and family.
Attending the three-room Chrisman Mill School first through eighth grades, he eventually made his way to Nicholasville High School and, in 1961, was one of the first classes to graduate from Jessamine County High. In the late 1960s, as the Vietnam War raged on, he enlisted in the Armed Services and became a member of the United States Navy, serving aboard the USS Shangri-La aircraft carrier that toured the Mediterranean. His nickname in the Navy was “Grit,” no doubt a nod to the work ethic learned from his father, mother and five elder siblings.
Gordon would meet his beloved wife of 38 years, Minnie F. Thompson, in the fifth grade as she took notice of him leading the choir in 4-H. Married November 3, 1963, together they lived a storybook marriage as they raised their two sons, grew their businesses, moved from town and built a beautiful home in the country and, in sickness and in health, cared for one another no matter the difficulty. Minnie, ever the extrovert and active businesswoman and community member given her leadership in Thompson’s Foodtown, and Gordon, the noted introvert, forged a devoted union centered around faith, family and hard work. One of their proudest accomplishments in life was putting both of their sons through college.
He built a reputation not only for being one of the hardest working, most efficient and best concrete masons and raisers of Black Angus beef cattle in the county, but he was notoriously known for being a perfectionist and one of the cleanest and neatest construction workers around. With hair always perfectly in place (and a cup of coffee close by), appearance to him symbolized the quality of one’s workmanship and how he thought individuals should take care of their tools and reputation. Years prior while serving in the Navy, he was repeatedly pulled out of formation as the commanding officer barked at Gordon’s fellow sailors, “THIS is how you’re supposed to look!”
His calloused hands and reconstructed shoulders certainly spoke the truth of a life committed to multi-tasking and caring for others. A gentleman to the tee, but often a man of few words, it was through his acts of fixing things and manual labor for others’ benefit that demonstrated his loving concern and affection. The stories of helping friends bail hay, house tobacco, catch cattle that had gotten out from neighboring farms, mend fences, repair house deficiencies, etc. is exhaustive. To his friends, it seemed as if there was nothing Gordon Cobb couldn’t fix or make better. To his family, he was simply Superman. A mighty, mighty oak.
Following Minnie’s passing in 2002 after a 10-year battle with cancer, Gordon no doubt plummeted into an unfamiliar life of loneliness and despair. Fortunately, God had other plans, which led to his union with Brenda Cox on October 21, 2006, who was also suffering from her own family’s loss of patriarch Kenny Cox. Together, Gordon and Brenda enjoyed 15 years of love, laughs and happiness as both families merged and created such treasured camaraderie between children and grandchildren. Weekend nights eating out, grandchildren activities, birthday celebrations, holidays at the farm and trips with the Beef Cattle Association all over North America brought such joy as they ventured through their golden years. Both knew they had saved one another. (In fact, “Lifesaver” often became Gordon’s favored name for Brenda.)
Gordon was also devout in his faith. Raised Methodist and eventually becoming a charter member of Edgewood Baptist Church, his belief in Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and savior ran deep. An active student of the Bible, he enjoyed few things more than listening to inspiring gospel music late at night in his recliner with his beloved companion at his side, Barney the Maltese.
Gordon is survived by his two sons, Wesley T. Cobb and L. Martin Cobb, wife Brenda Cox Cobb and her daughter-in-law Belinda Blair – who supported his needs with particular care and love following the accident, son Eric Cox (Jessica), grandchildren Courtney and Tyler Cox, and Kennedy and Colton Cox, and two sisters, Phyllis Bradshaw and Linda Downing (Doug), dozens of nieces and nephews, and treasured friends throughout the Nicholasville community. He was preceded in death by his childhood sweetheart and wife, Minnie Thompson Cobb, step-son Brian Cox, father H.T. Cobb, mother Thelma Hager Cobb, brother Stewart Cobb (Charlene), sisters Loretta Burton (Worley) and Louise Hasselbring (Ray), and brother-in-law Ray Bradshaw – and Barney, “The best dog there ever was.”
Visitation will be held at Edgewood Baptist Church (EBC) in Nicholasville on Thursday, February 24, from 3-4:00 p.m. for family and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for the public. A celebration of his life will be held at EBC Friday, February 25, at 11:00 a.m., followed by military honors and burial at Maple Grove Cemetery. Hager & Cundiff Funeral Home is coordinating all arrangements. Pallbearers will be Eric Cox, Tyler Cox, Colton Cox, Bob Nicholson, Cliff Brown, Todd Downing, Tommie Burton and Rodney Burton. Honorary pallbearers will be Virgil (Poochie) Burton, Paul Abshear, Wayne Hayden, Jerry Lawson and Coby Lawson.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Jessamine County Beef Cattle Association scholarship program benefiting youth pursuing agricultural education. Checks should be mailed to Doug Marshall, 120 Paddock Drive, Nicholasville, KY 40356.
Given 93 days Gordon spent in the hospital, the family would like to extend particular appreciation to the City of Nicholasville EMTs, University of Kentucky Hospital caregivers, staff of Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital, Belinda Blair, Phyllis Bradshaw and Linda Downing, and both of Wesley’s and Martin’s employers, Shield Environmental and Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, respectively. Their kind and loving touch will never be forgotten.
This obituary was lovingly submitted by Gordon’s family. Hager & Cundiff values nothing more than the trust, loyalty and friendship of the Cobb family.