My beautiful 93 years young mother and matriarch of our family Eulalia Eudora Fox passed away August 2, 2013 at the Lompoc Valley Medical Center in Lompoc, California. Eulalia (Eula) was born December 5, 1919 in Pollard, Arkansas to Clarence Eugene and Cora Mae (Johnson) Grider. She was raised in the Baptist faith. She married the love of her life Eulas Ray Fox April 10, 1937.

Eula and Ray had two children in Arkansas, Donna Rae and Jerry Dean, and upon moving to Michigan number three came along, Marilyn Kay. She worked for Philco-Ford and AC Sparkplug. In 1957 they moved to Southern California and she was employed by Hughes. Upon Taking a Sunday drive they ended up in "The Valley of the Flowers" and knew that is where they wanted to live and retire. Mom transferred to Santa Barbara Research where she retired to care for her loving husband Ray.

Modest, compassionate, empathetic, selfless, gentle, nonjudgmental, patient, loving, kind and giving are a mere sample of words which come to mind when remembering Mom. She loved her family enormously and they loved her back with all the same adoration. Her departure from our world is an agonizing realization for everyone she left behind. She will not be forgotten and most will find solace in realizing that they had the great fortune to be a part of her life. Her interests were gardening, feeding her backyard birds, Bingo and she was the queen of the slot machines in Las Vegas and Laughlin.

Eulalia was preceded in death by her parents Clarence & Cora Grider, husband Eulas Ray Fox, daughter Donna Rae Whalen, son Jerry Dean Fox, son-in-law Marion D. Williams, Sr., grandson Marion D. Williams, Jr., great grandsons Michael Aron Byers and Joseph Lanning, brothers Norman and Vernon Grider, sisters Zelma Mayo and Alma Haley and nephew Carl Duckworth.

Surviving Eulalia are her daughter Marilyn (Donny Herrmann) Williams of Washington, son-in-law Richard (Virginia Fox) Whalen of Lompoc, daughter-in-law Karen Fox Hayden of Washington, grandchildren Susan (Al) English of Colorado, Kim Whitehair of Oegon, Kelly (Mike) Byers of Tennessee, Thomas Whalen of Tennessee, Tracey (Steve) Lanning of Washington, Jerry Dean Fox, Jr. of Washington, Ray (Pete) Fox of Washington and Tisha Fox of Washington, numerous great and great-great grandchildren, niece Josie (Jim) Brandon of Arkansas and Nephew Dr. Hillard (Gwen) Duckworth of Arkansas.

A special thank you and much love is given to Richard "Dick" Whalen her son-in-law who upon my father's death bed promised to take care of "Euke" which he has done mentally, financially and physically for almost thirty years. Mom and Dick formed a special bond that could not and would not be broken. She was able to stay in her own home because of him. As a son-in-law he went above and beyond of what any son-in-law would do out of pure love and respect for Mom and Dad.

Eula had a very tender heart for abused animals, so, in lieu of flowers please consider a donation to your local humane society.

Arrangements for her burial have been entrusted to Starbuck-Lind Mortuary (starbucklind.com). A private family interment will take place at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.

Mom there is a hole in my heart that will never mend. Until we kiss and embrace again.