“I want to have 100 descendants before I die.”

 

Those were the words uttered by 83-year-old Shirley Cox, who for years has seen the branches of her family tree extend to higher elevations year-in and year-out.

 

And on January 17 of this year, Shirley’s wish came true as she welcomed her great grandson, Abel, into the world along with her granddaughter Stevee and daughter Pennee.

 

This past Easter, the Cox family got most of the clan together to celebrate the holiday as well as toasting the milestone occasion, including young Abel, who commemorated his two-month-old existence.

 

Shirley’s granddaughter, Stevee — who is Shirley’s 24th grandchild out of 32 — and her husband, Michael, welcomed their third child (Abel Michael-Steven Hansen) to their home almost three-and-a-half years following the birth of their first daughter, Addelyn in 2012. The families’ oldest daughter, Alysa, is Stevee’s step-daughter and was born in April of 2006.

 

Abel is Shirley’s 58th great grandchild and Addelyn is 43rd.

 

Shirley has a total of eight children of her own, 32 grandchildren, 58 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

 

Shirley and her husband, Harold — who passed away in December of 1999 — were high school sweethearts who both grew up in Becker  in the 30’s and married each other in 1950.

 

Their first child was Harold Jr., who entered the world Feb. 27 of 1951, becoming Shirley’s #1 of 100 descendants over the next 65 years. He married Sandra in 1970 and they produced four children.

 

Shirley and Harold would then have seven more children including Marlene (1952), Gary (1953), Vicki (1955), Kathy (1957), Russell (1958), Emery (1960) and Pennee (1962).

 

Marlene, Shirley’s second child, gave birth to Shirley’s first grandchild, Kari, in June of 1970.

 

Along with building an incredibly big family, Shirley and Harold built and owned Oakview Plaza in 1985 (currently home to Jimmy’s Pizza) and had three businesses there — the Oaks Restaurant, a laundromat called Oakview Laundry and a beauty shop called “Shirley’s Salon”. They ran the businesses all the way up until 1993 when they sold the complex and moved to Avon.

 

“We loved the people of Becker,” said Shirley. “We always enjoyed visiting with people of the community and sharing a cup of coffee.”

 

At the time Shirley and Harold planted roots in Becker, the city had a population of “around 365”, said Shirley. They were married 49 years until Harold’s death in 1999.

 

Along with running the businesses and Harold being Mayor of Becker for a stint, the Coxes enjoyed many activities and family trips while they and their family continued to prosper. In 1990, Shirley and Harold welcomed their first great-grandchild into the family (Kiersten). 

 

By the time 2004 rolled around and the family tree was now a giant sequoia, the Cox family decided to hold an annual family reunion in August  at the Avon lake home. The three-day gathering developed from picnicking and socializing to a ritual of holding what the family calls, “The Cox Games”.

 

“We would have bobbing for apples, water polo, swimming, volleyball and lots of games,” said Shirley. “We’d also hold a talent show with all the kids, grandkids and great grandkids.”

 

The family property in Avon includes a park on 48-acres across the road from the lake home where family members would camp out for the weekend. The Coxes have also held three weddings on the premises along with receptions and numerous birthday parties.

 

“We’d also have to rent outhouses for the three days cause there were so many people,” Shirley says.

 

Shirley is not one to sit around at her lake home and just wait for death’s knock at her door. Her family says she is active and very involved in her children’s lives and their offspring. She enjoys bowling twice a week and she even continues to mow the lawn with a manual lawnmower, tending her many flower gardens and enjoys playing with her grandchildren.

 

Most of her children still live in the general area of Central Minnesota and they either stop by her lake home regularly or Shirley comes to town to visit them.

 

“I try and come to Becker as often as I can,” Shirley said. “And of course, I can always expect the lot of them in August when we hold The Cox Games.”

 

Last August, 136 people attended the weekend “Cox Games”, 119 of them being family members. The majority sported orange t-shirts that had the words, “Hubba Hubba — Let Your Shirley Shine” written on the front of the shirts. The slogan is a catch phrase the Coxes used last year and the back of the shirt says, “#CoxGames, #CoxFamily, Est. 1950.”

 

“What’s so amazing about my grandma is how sharp her mind is,” said Grandchild Stevee. “She is talkative, has a great memory and is full of history. Oh, and she just swells with pride over family.”

 

Shirley recently said that since she has lived to see her 100th descendant, now she wants to live long enough to see 100 great-grandchildren. Currently she has 58 and by the end of 2016, she’ll have 63.

 

“I have to be the luckiest grandma, great grandma and great, great grandma ever,” she said. “Just think, I get over 100 hugs and kisses many, many times a year.”

 

“They are all so precious.” 

 

Just like the mighty oak family tree she and Harold have grown since 1950.