How do you say goodbye to a best friend . . . . Philip Michael Cox 1949-2018

There is no way to say goodbye . . .  Death comes quickly. 

We have so many good memories of him. I'll let pictures show you.

His famous baked beans.

Phil and Bernie doing together what they did best together.

Homemade ice cream using an antique engine.

Margie and I at the Hamilton Steam engine show.

My first vintage sewing machine before Phil . . . 

... after Phil's expertise work.

A beautiful 301 Singer I picked up for Phil. 

Hamilton Steam Engine show, Karen and Phil.

She loved her blacksmith!

Phil sent us home with the juiciest cantaloupes. We sent him this picture of our grand kids using them on each other.

Phil and Nathan Robertson, who loved Phil like a dad.

Phil's friend and neighbor, Joni  made a cake for the BAM meeting at his house.

Phil forging in his shop, demonstrating at a meeting.

Just a couple of his mules, looking for a hand out.

My blacksmith was a saint and drove the bus in the background, with 19 women, to Hamilton Missouri. We visited Missouri Star Quilt. Phil came to town to keep Bernie sane! Margie was still working and met us on her lunch hour, the four of us dined at Subway.

His other girl Coco.

One cold day the four of us went road tripping. When he saw this horse drawn chariot, nothing doing we girls had to pose for a picture. 

Phil along with his buddies Nathan and Ken, discuss the big hammer that he rebuilt and  hauled to our conference in Sedalia.

We met in Arrow Rock Missouri one Sunday afternoon. 4 best friends!

This was their 46th wedding anniversary!

Margie took up broom making after Phil made all the broom making tools. 

The Bradley Boys! Phil had hats for all these friends that just happen to own Bradleys. For those that don't know, a Bradley is a BIG power hammer. 

The Bradley women, Nathan's Mom Beverly, Steve McCarthy wife, Lori, Me, and Margie.

A blacksmith gathering at our house, Phil and Pat McCarty visit.

 Another machine I bought for Phil. I believe he said his mother had the same machine.

Last year Phil driving us and blacksmith Willy in the parade. The truck won 1st place!

 Phil and his bride -  as he referred to Margie. Phil trudged through this weekend, not feeling well. The following week he was diagnosed with diabetes.

 The BIG ice cream maker, a 5 gallon one was brought to the Hamilton 

steam engine show.

 This was a  November  meeting in Doniphan. We took off early Friday morning. Bernie showed us a lot of Missouri state parks on the way.

 this sums it all up . . . 

I used this picture against Phil so many times. Margie had bought a big roll 

of quilt batting. The lady from the shop and Phil stuffed it into Margie's car!

The blacksmiths all discussing something.

Such a memorable day, Phil loaded the big Bradley on the trailer for us. Little did we know, 30 miles later we'd have a flat! I called a blacksmith who happens to be a highway patrolman and he helped us out. 

 The day before the Lord took Phil away from us, we were eating breakfast together. Phil found tiny bottles of Tabasco sauce in the hotel kitchen. I'm not sure who liked them the most, Phil, our 13 year old grandson Alex, or my blacksmith Bernie!?!?

 Saturday  March 10th. If we only knew it was our last day together. 

 Phil is being loaded into his beloved "Shelby", an 1948 International truck.

Lick Fork Cemetery, Gallatin, Missouri

So you can't say goodbye . . . you say until we met again my friend.

"It will work itself out", Phil Cox