- Date Of Birth: September 15, 1917
- Date Of Death: December 17, 2007
- State: Florida
James “Nowling” Cleveland Cox, age 90, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, passed away on Monday, December 17, 2007 surrounded by his family.
Jim was born on September 15, 1917 in Wards Basin to Mary Maltezo Cox and Lewis Jefferson Cox. His family moved to Destin in 1921 and then to Camp Walton in 1923. “Nowling”, as he was known, attended the Camp Walton Schoolhouse. He helped build the first Destin bridge and ran a charter boat out of Destin at age 16. In 1941 he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut in 1943. He left the Coast Guard in 1946 and returned to Destin where he bought his first charter boat, the Playmate. In 1952 he began operating private yachts which he enjoyed until his retirement in 2001 at age 84. His reputation as an expert boat captain provided him opportunities to take many memorable trips and forge special friendships throughout the years.
Jim was predeceased by his wife, Pearl Grainger Cox and his parents. He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Jenifer and Don Bafundo and Tami and Danny Hare, three granddaughters Kesley Brown and her fiancé Scott Calato, Kendall Brown and Heather Hare, extended family and many very special friends.
