Obituary: James Franklin Cox
James “Jim” Franklin Cox, 90, of Cape Elizabeth, dies after brief illness
Cape Elizabeth, Maine – James “Jim” Franklin Cox, a lifelong Cape Elizabeth resident and decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran, died on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Maine Medical Center after a brief illness. He was 90.
Cox was born November 17, 1935, to Ralph and Nellie Cox on Beach Bluff Terrace in Cape Elizabeth. He grew up with two brothers and graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School in 1955, where he met his future wife, Evelyn Marie Nielson. The couple married August 9, 1958, while Jim was already serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.
During his military career Jim saw active duty in Da Nang during the Vietnam War and was also stationed in Okinawa and Puerto Rico. While he was away, Evelyn cared for their young children at home. The couple retired from the Corps in October 1975 and returned to Cape Elizabeth.
After leaving the Marines, Jim worked for Foster Wheeler during the construction of the power plant on Cousins Island. He later applied his logistics skills at Johnson Supply in Portland and undertook local remodeling projects. Jim also kept his “So‑So” lobster boat in operation, continuing Maine’s long tradition of fishing.
In the mid‑1980s, Jim and Evelyn began a family business, Dun‑Roamin’ Farm, at Evelyn’s ancestral home. The farm offered cut‑your‑own Christmas trees and a variety of flowers, and it quickly became a local favorite.
A man of many passions, Jim spent much of his time outdoors. As a boy he explored the “Lone Jack” campsite near Jackman with his father, and later returned as a seasoned fisherman and hunter. Lone Jack Pond was his favorite fishing spot, and he spent countless hours hiking streams in search of trout. In the fall he would head north to Oxbow for deer hunting, staying at the Libby River Camp or in his favorite hunting camper, often accompanied by brother‑in‑law Cliff Nielson and longtime hunting partner Bobby Bothel.
Jim was also deeply involved in community service. He was a member of the Cape Elizabeth Lions Club, Hiram Lodge 180, and both the Scottish Rite and Shrine. Together with Evelyn, he served on the Cape Elizabeth Fire Department rescue unit for many years, earning the town’s Ralph T. Gould award for public service in 2002. Later in life he took up golf and quickly became a fixture on the local course, playing with seasoned friends.
Jim was pre‑deceased by his parents, Ralph Sr. and Nellie (Dow) Cox, and his brothers, Ralph Jr. and Richard. He is survived by his son James C. “Jay” Cox of Cape Elizabeth; daughters Julie (husband David Paris of Bowdoinham) and Jodie (husband Raymond Johnson of Monmouth); six granddaughters; fifteen great‑grandchildren; and a wide circle of nieces, nephews, and friends who will miss him deeply.
Visiting hours for the family will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, at Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland. A funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 5, at the same venue. The family will hold a private interment at Riverside Cemetery in Cape Elizabeth after the ceremony.
The family extends a special thank you to the Maine Health Cardiac Intensive Care Unit staff for their dedication and compassion during Jim’s final days.
