Mary Elizabeth Iris Cox nee O'Brien

Brief Life History of Elizabeth Mary Iris Cox (nee O’Brien)

Elizabeth Mary Iris Cox nee O’Brien was born on 4 November 1937 in La Peche, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada to Michael Leo O’Brien and Stella Amy Mary Driscoll. She was child number 9 of 11. She married John Henry Cox on 26 June 1965 in Kensington, London, England and they were sealed on the same day in the London Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Iris was fortunate to have survived a number of near-death experiences in her life. In 1937 Iris’s mother, pregnant with Iris, survived the total destruction by fire of the family house on their farm near Brennen’s Hill in the Gatineau area of Quebec, Canada. At the age of three Iris was badly scalded by an accident with boiling water which took many months of care by her mother at home, far from a hospital, through the harsh Canadian winter. Later in life she was only given weeks to live when she was diagnosed with stage four cancer, but with the help of conventional and unconventional heath modalities as well as shear grit and prayers she beat it. As her patriarchal blessing affirmed: “I bless thee, dear sister, with faith like the women who touched the hem of His garment and was made whole.”

She grew up on her parent’s farm in Brennen’s Hill and attended the one room Valley View Elementary school near her home and graduated from St Michaels High School in Low, Quebec. During her childhood she attended nearby Holy Cross and St. Camellis Roman Catholic parish churches. She attended St. Patrick’s college of the University of Ottawa for four years studying languages and history and graduated with a bachelor’s in arts degree in 1961. Afterwards she attended Queens University in Kingston and obtained a Teachers Certificate. She taught school for most of her working life at all grade levels and in four different countries.

Like many youth living in British Commonwealth countries, she had a desire to visit the mother country and more particularly, experience the history behind English literature that she had been studying. In June 1963 she set sail for England not realizing the profound changes that were about to take place in her life. During a cycling tour of the continent, she met two missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who encouraged her to learn more about their religion. On her return to London, she investigated the Church and though it was a struggle to leave the Roman Catholic faith of her birth, she became converted and joined the Church. At this same time, she started dating John Cox, a member of the Church, who baptized her on 25 June 1964. Twelve months later they were married. In the course of her Church life, she had callings at the ward and stake level in all the assignments a women could have. When her husband was called as a mission president, Iris was surprised that she too was set apart as a missionary. Later in life she also served as a missionary in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

It was six years before she was blessed with the birth to her first child, Jared, a boy and after another six years she adopted Rachel, a two year old girl. As a result of her frustration with conventional medicine to cure her son’s childhood illnesses she became enthusiastic about alternative and natural health therapies. She became a licensed massage therapist and eventually specialized in energy medicine. For decades, without any advertising, she had an unending stream of clients seeking relief from their social and emotional issues. It can be stated without reservation that she had the gift of healing.

In 1983 she and her husband and children emigrated to America as a result of her husband being invited to work at Church headquarters. They lived in Farmington, Utah. She is survived by her husband John of 60 years and their son Jared and his spouse Camy with their children: Lauren, Jason and Joshua; and their daughter, Rachel, and her spouse Matthew and their children: Maleah, Chloe and Zari.

Services will be held on Friday, July 3, 2026 at 11:00 AM at the Farmington Rock Chapel, 272 N. Main Street, Farmington, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the services from 9:30-10:30 AM. 

Interment will be held on Monday, July 6, 2026 at 10:00 AM at the Farmington City Cemetery, 200 East 500 South, Farmington, Utah.