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Otis O. Fox, Jr., of Kerrville, Texas, departed on September 15, 2021. He was born in Indianola Oklahoma on February 9, 1934. He was the son of Oklahoma school teachers Otis O. Fox and Foy Ross Morton Fox. His brothers were David Frank Fox of St. Louis Missouri, and Ross Fox, of Stillwater Oklahoma.
Otis grew up traveling with his parents as they taught in Michigan and Oklahoma. Studies and sports were important to him. He played high school football in Minco and Stillwater, Oklahoma. He graduated as the valedictorian from Stillwater Highschool in 1952. He attended and graduated from Oklahoma University under a Navy ROTC scholarship. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa Academic Fraternity in his senior year at OU. He graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in geology and then did post-graduate work in geology in Freiburg, Germany as a Fulbright Scholar.
Otis then served as a midshipman on the USS Wisconsin and then as a naval officer on aircraft carriers in the US Atlantic Fleet. He achieved the rank of lieutenant.
He married Nancy Murl Duncan, also of Oklahoma, on June 6, 1959 in Washington D.C. He met Nancy at OU. At the time they married, Nancy was a secretary to Speaker of the House Carl Albert. They were married for 45 years, until Nancy’s death in 2004. They had three children: Otto Fox a computer programmer in Austin, Duncan Fox a retired attorney in Austin and Melanie Fox Vanicek, a veterinarian in Kerrville.
In civilian life, Otis worked as a petroleum geologist for ExxonMobil Corporation for 31 years. He focused on oil exploration and travelled and lived throughout the world in his position. He lived in Libya, Singapore, England and the United States, searching for oil throughout the world.
Throughout his career, Otis enjoyed learning about cultures and languages. He was fluent in German. He studied French, Russian, Spanish and Arabic.
Otis and Nancy retired to Kerrville in 1992. They were both active in the Kerrville community. Otis was a language teacher at Dietert Senior Center and worked to help people with their taxes. He served as a nature guide at Riverside Nature Center and became a certified Master Gardener and Master Naturalist. He was also active in the Kerrville Morning Rotary Club, Kerrville Trailblazers walking club, Hill Country ExxonMobile Retiree Club, Hill Country Geological Society, the Gardeners of Kerrville and the Native Plant Society. He served as an usher at the Kerrville First United Methodist Church for many years.
After Nancy’s passing, Otis found companionship with Elivra Ramirez of Kerrville. They enjoyed each other’s company; they danced and traveled together and Otis became a part of Elivra’s family. As Otis aged, Elvira became his caregiver, helping him through many health challenges. They loved each other through the end of his life.
The Fox family would like to say thank you for all the love and support given to Otis during his life as he faced his health trials. Special thanks to Peterson Hospice and the church family at First United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, please consider charitable donations to Peterson Hospice or Doctors Without Borders or Kerrville First United Methodist Church.
Funeral arrangements are being managed by Grimes Funeral Chapels. Memorial services will be held Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 6pm at Kerrville First United Methodist Church.
Otis grew up traveling with his parents as they taught in Michigan and Oklahoma. Studies and sports were important to him. He played high school football in Minco and Stillwater, Oklahoma. He graduated as the valedictorian from Stillwater Highschool in 1952. He attended and graduated from Oklahoma University under a Navy ROTC scholarship. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa Academic Fraternity in his senior year at OU. He graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in geology and then did post-graduate work in geology in Freiburg, Germany as a Fulbright Scholar.
Otis then served as a midshipman on the USS Wisconsin and then as a naval officer on aircraft carriers in the US Atlantic Fleet. He achieved the rank of lieutenant.
He married Nancy Murl Duncan, also of Oklahoma, on June 6, 1959 in Washington D.C. He met Nancy at OU. At the time they married, Nancy was a secretary to Speaker of the House Carl Albert. They were married for 45 years, until Nancy’s death in 2004. They had three children: Otto Fox a computer programmer in Austin, Duncan Fox a retired attorney in Austin and Melanie Fox Vanicek, a veterinarian in Kerrville.
In civilian life, Otis worked as a petroleum geologist for ExxonMobil Corporation for 31 years. He focused on oil exploration and travelled and lived throughout the world in his position. He lived in Libya, Singapore, England and the United States, searching for oil throughout the world.
Throughout his career, Otis enjoyed learning about cultures and languages. He was fluent in German. He studied French, Russian, Spanish and Arabic.
Otis and Nancy retired to Kerrville in 1992. They were both active in the Kerrville community. Otis was a language teacher at Dietert Senior Center and worked to help people with their taxes. He served as a nature guide at Riverside Nature Center and became a certified Master Gardener and Master Naturalist. He was also active in the Kerrville Morning Rotary Club, Kerrville Trailblazers walking club, Hill Country ExxonMobile Retiree Club, Hill Country Geological Society, the Gardeners of Kerrville and the Native Plant Society. He served as an usher at the Kerrville First United Methodist Church for many years.
After Nancy’s passing, Otis found companionship with Elivra Ramirez of Kerrville. They enjoyed each other’s company; they danced and traveled together and Otis became a part of Elivra’s family. As Otis aged, Elvira became his caregiver, helping him through many health challenges. They loved each other through the end of his life.
The Fox family would like to say thank you for all the love and support given to Otis during his life as he faced his health trials. Special thanks to Peterson Hospice and the church family at First United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, please consider charitable donations to Peterson Hospice or Doctors Without Borders or Kerrville First United Methodist Church.
Funeral arrangements are being managed by Grimes Funeral Chapels. Memorial services will be held Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 6pm at Kerrville First United Methodist Church.