Local resident Doris Cox recently celebrated her 92nd birthday. She has been in Blanco for the past 30 of those years, and the people of Blanco are better off because of her presence here. Doris has contributed a great deal to the betterment of our town.
Born and raised in Michigan, Doris raised her own children near Dallas. Then her oldest son settled in Blanco, married, and had a child. Doris visited, liked Blanco, liked the idea of leaving the city, and liked the opportunity to be closer to her family. She moved to Blanco, and she’s been here ever since.
Doris believes in love and kindness and peace, and she truly has attempted to live her life according to those beliefs. Always interested in spirituality and metaphysics, Doris made an in-depth study of the Course in Miracles. For many years, she was a member of spirituality study groups in town – Blanco folks who read a variety of spiritual and metaphysical texts and teachings, discussed them, and supported one another to embody the teachings they studied.
Putting her belief in the power of love into action, Doris was a founding member of All Faiths Church, a church founded specifically to be inclusive and welcoming to all.
Then, when she was 76, Doris entered a four-year degree program at the Barbara Brennan School of Healing. It was a rigorous program, and if you went to visit Doris, you’d see her dining room table stacked with books she was reading, and papers she was writing. She graduated just before her 80th birthday, and then she did a year of graduate school.
For several years, Doris used her skills as a healer here in Blanco, helping many people.
“A healing from Doris always seemed to set me back on the right track,” said one person about her work with Doris. “A session with her would renew my faith in life and in myself.”
Doris believes in the transformative power of love, but it’s no namby-pamby weak love, and Doris is no Pollyanna. She’ll defend love and its power to transform, even to the most prejudiced and hateful person. She’s a strong woman who knows her own mind and trusts her instincts.
All the other contributions Doris has made have improved the quality of life for the people of Blanco. She served on the task force that developed Bindseil Park. She served on the task force that got Blanco connected to water from Canyon Lake. She was active in Blanco’s amateur theater group. She was a part of the effort to save the old Blanco County Courthouse. And for many years she volunteered at the Blanco Library.
Even with all that, Doris has always had time and energy for her grandchildren, and they have been an immense source of joy for her. Many weekends and school holidays would find “Grandma Dee Dee’s” house filled with their laughter and creativity.
Doris loves nature and has a particular and profound affinity with trees and birds. For many years she walked in Bindseil Park and Blanco State Park every day, rain or shine, and she and her grandchildren spent many joyful days swimming and playing at Blanco State Park.
A few years ago, she bought a hiking stick at the park store, and she goes nowhere without it. You may have seen her out and about with her hiking stick. She prefers it to a cane, saying it keeps her standing tall.
Doris Cox, thank you for being who you are and for all you’ve given. You have good reason to stand tall.
