John Robert Fox, 61, of Mansfield, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, on August 12, 2016.
John was born on Sept. 26, 1954, in Mansfield, to Robert Jay and Doradeanne (Garver) Fox. He was a member of Sar Shalom Messianic Congregation. He was a man with many God given gifts and talents. Many of those can be seen in his children. He touched and blessed the lives of so many, including his capacity to love and serve others. He loved his wife, children, and grandchildren very much.
John struggled with addictions for a long time. As is the case with anyone who struggles with addictions, it steals so much from you, and changes the way you think, speak, and act. It makes you do things that you would never have done before.
Years ago, he shared his confession of faith in Jesus as a youth. In order to come to faith, we must give up our will to save ourselves and ask Jesus to do what we cannot do. John failed to apply this truth to his addiction and believed that he could beat it on his own strength and redeem himself to God and others. The truth is that it is impossible to beat an addiction as long as we think we can do it ourselves. You must admit that you have a problem and that you need help. Coming to faith does not immediately release the problem, but it is a start.
Addiction is no respecter of age, gender, race or income. If you are struggling with addictions, please put aside guilt, shame, embarrassment, or whatever is stopping you. Get help now. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, as today is the day of salvation.
John is survived by his wife of 36 years, Debra (Smith) Fox; five children, Michael Allen Fox. who is separated from Aundrea Fox, Jadaè (Melissa) Fox, Jadae’s twin sister, Adeana (Laurell) Fox, Sara Ann (Enrique Diego) Ortiz-Martinez, all of Mansfield, and Joshua Justin (Sarah) Fox, of Portage, Michigan: two heart-adopted children, Ashleigh Nicole (Joshua) Coffey and Greg Porter, both of Mansfield; 13 grandchildren, Angelea, Isaiah, Santiago, Gianna, Malachi, Ezra, Josiah, Titus, Jenna, Haylin, Corinna, Kadan, Xzaviar, and many others who called him grandpa; two siblings, Kathleen “Kat” (Steven) Plumbley, of Port Charles, Florida, and Doug (Wendy) Fox, of Lexington; and his mother-in-law, Jewel Smith.
John was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Alan Fox.
Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, at Sar Shalom Messianic Congregation, 1650 S. Main St. Mansfield.
Werner Gompf Funeral Services, 1106 Park Ave. East, Mansfield, is handling the arrangements.
Online condolences may be made to www.wernergompf.com.
