Jason N Cox

On September 17, 2024, Jason Cox passed away after a courageous battle in the hospital. 

 Jason was born on July 14, 1975, and grew up in Riverside and Gasquet, California. During a challenging childhood, Jason relied on his beloved grandparents George and Kay Otto, Aunt Sharon and Uncle Dan Alexander, as well as Al and Sheila Leverett, to help guide and raise him through the years. 

 Jason's greatest joy in life was his family. His children, Jason, Jasmine, Alyssa, and Matthew were his world. He married Shannon, the love of his life, and together they were raising their two children, Alyssa and Matthew. Jason found deep fulfillment in being an active and devoted father, whether it was volunteering at their schools, coaching their sports teams, cheering at their events, playing outside with them, or crafting them the perfect breakfast. His heart swelled with pride in his role as a father to all his children. Last year, he enjoyed a wonderful vacation in Reno with Jasmine and his younger kids where they did nonstop family activities like escape rooms, virtual reality and carnival games. One of his most cherished memories was officiating his son Jason’s wedding to his beloved daughter-in-law, Alondra. Jason shared an especially close bond with his sister, Jennifer Pacheco, and he was honored to walk her down the aisle when she married his brother-in-law, John. As "Uncle J," he took immense pride in being a loving presence in the life of Jennifer and John's daughter, Kennedy.

Jason also strongly believed in protecting and helping those in need, which led him to careers first in caring for the developmentally disabled and later moving into law enforcement. Jason spent 16 years as a deputy for the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, as a k-9 handler, drug interdiction specialist, and special agent in the major crimes task force. In 2016, he transferred to Lake County where he worked as an investigator for the District Attorney’s Office, focusing on major crimes and electronic forensic investigations. His dedication to the community extended beyond his career, as he spent many years coaching youth sports teams and volunteering at various events.

Jason’s adventurous spirit led to a wide range of interests, including becoming a PADI-certified advanced rescue scuba diver and earning his private pilot’s license with both multi-engine and instrument ratings. He also enjoyed camping, skydiving, hang-gliding, four-wheeling, lobster diving, paintballing and so much more – much of these activities were often shared with his children, creating countless memories. Another longstanding tradition for Jason was playing early morning basketball with a close group of friends in Ukiah for over twenty years. His greatest passion, however, was traveling with his family. Most recently, he and Shannon were overjoyed to take Alyssa and Matthew back to Niagara Falls, where he proposed to Shannon in 2008. During the trip, he presented Alyssa and Matthew with a puzzle box that could only be opened when they guessed the word most important to him, Alyssa correctly guessed “family” and inside they found gifts of pendants to represent his love for his family. This special trip was capped off by a reunion with his sister’s family and his son and daughter-in-law.

Jason is survived by his loving wife, Shannon, and their children, Alyssa and Matthew; his adult children, Jason and Jasmine; and his daughter-in-law Alondra. He is also survived by his younger sister, Jennifer Pacheco, her husband John, and their daughter Kennedy; his Aunt Sharon and Uncle Dan Alexander, cousins Chris, Celeste, and Collin; his father Jeff Cox; and his adoptive mother Sheila Leverett.

A family-friendly celebration of Jason’s life will be held on October 12, 2024 at the Saturday Afternoon Club located at 107 S. Oak Street in Ukiah, CA, at 2:30 p.m. The memorial service will begin at 3:00 p.m. followed by a reception.