Biography: Emery Joseph Fox, was born October 26, 1940 to Russell Dahman Fox and Mary Cordelia Hutchings Fox. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 13th, 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Kathryn Foster.

Joe was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and moved to Little Rock at a young age. He grew up in the Hillcrest neighborhood, where he made lifelong friends hunting, fishing and camping in the “wilderness” (now the site of Henderson Middle School). He graduated from Little Rock Central High School in 1958 and went on to graduate from the University of Arkansas, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. 

Upon graduation, he entered active duty in the US Army Reserves before returning to Little Rock to marry Penny Gay, with whom he enjoyed 58 loving years of marriage. He was a founding partner of Hodges, Vines, Fox and Castin Consulting before joining the team at Pickens’ Bond. In 1993, he started Fox Construction Company, and retired in 2004 selling the the business to his son. 

Joe was an avid duck hunter and top marksman until Parkinsons made it difficult to handle his firearms. But he continued to enjoy the friendship of members of PIn Oak Duck Club, where he was a member from 1971 until 2004. He loved the outdoors and could be found on summer weekends driving a ski boat full of kids, camping, supporting his daughters’ girl scouts troop, and, later in life, taking his chocolate lab Jake on ‘scoots’ around the neighborhood.

Joe was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 2004. Through his 18-year journey with the disease, he defied all the odds and rarely complained. Joe never needed help, but in his eyes, there was plenty of help to be given. He was always “fine,’ even when he wasn’t. 

Joe was a natural host and loved to entertain. Lobster boils, BBQs, fish frys, rehearsal dinners – you name it, he was up for the occasion. He could be found at the bar - not with his own drink, but refreshing everyone else's. He was most comfortable being the care taker, but he received untold years of caretaking from his wife, Penny. They were a team through the best and the worst. 

Parkinsons definitely slowed Joe down, but it didn’t touch his sense of humor, his get-it-done attitude or his ability to communicate with the people he loved. Hand gestures did the trick. He was best known for this signature move: a finger pointed above his head and waved quickly in a circle. This meant, “Let’s get on with it.” And, Joe would occasionally send you off with a rock-and-roll hand sign, which we realize now he may have been using to say “I love you” in sign language.  

When asked what he would most want his friends and family to remember about him, his answer was, “I lived. I loved. I left. And I’d do it all over again!” 

Joe is survived by his wife of 58 years, Penny; his three children and their families; Cindy Minor and Caroline Minor of Little Rock, AR, Laura and Bob Hodges of Starkville, MS and Joel and Dawne Fox and their children Mollie Fox and Henry Fox all of Little Rock; as well as his brother and sister-in-law Russell and Vicki Fox of Kingsport, TN and many nieces, nephews, and long-time friends.

The service will be held on Tuesday, December 19 at 2:00 pm at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, followed by interment in the columbarium at the Cathedral.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral or to the Michael J Fox Parkinsons’ Foundation at michaeljfox.org. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com