Demie Harlean Cox, 68, of Lebanon, died May 17, 2022, in Lebanon.
She was born Jan. 25, 1954, in Weaverville, Calif. to Bruce and Loretta Avery Pocock Heffington.
Demie was preceded in death by her mother Loretta Avery (Popcock), father Bruce Heffington, and little brother David Avery.
She loved horses. She competed in several 100-mile endurance horse races, trained and broke other horses at stables across California. Demie met her first husband, Steve Cervantes and father of her only child Mathew Cervants, at Aces Stables in Bakersfield, Calif.
Survivors include her son Mathew and daughter-in-law Jovanna Cervantes, brother Richard, and sister-in-law Juana Avery, her sisters Karen (Avery) and brother in-law Jim Albitre; and the Heffington sisters include Cindy Rivera, Andrea Reed, Pepper Stackhouse, Tammy Russel; six grandchildren: Andrew Cervantes, Courtney Roe, Julia Maddox, Doreen Schmidt, Andrew Cresswell, and Jaryn Doty. Demie had eight greatgrandchildren: Kalea and Alaina Cervantes, James and Charlie Roe, Matteo Maddox, Kimberly, Luka, and Jack Schmidt. A ninth Cervantes great-grandchild is due within the month.
Funeral services for Demie Harlean Cox will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 11, 2022, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church. Burial will be in Atchley Blackfoot Cemetery, under the direction of Shadel’s Colonial Chapel of Lebanon. There will be a wake following the memorial service at 25700 Hwy. 32, Lebanon, Mo. 65536. All are invited.
