Matthew Cox – Junior Deacon

I often say that my parents have restless feet. So, it came to be that I was born in Aberdeen, Scotland of American parents where my father was finishing up his university studies.

While growing up, my parents’ travels continued. I was lucky enough to live in Ashland and then Anchorage, Alaska before going to Zimbabwe where I finished high school. From there, I returned to Scotland with a stint in England where I went to college. I was quite the idealist back then and thought I could change the world back then and was told I had a knack for writing so the natural choice for me was to major in Journalism.

While looking for a job in the newspaper field, I took a “temporary” job working for the British equivalent of the IRS. I ended up staying there for eight years before a merger with a similar government department put my job at risk. Since a large part of my family was living in Portland, it only made sense to me to finally return to America.

I quickly settled down in Portland and met my future wife, Summer, shortly after arriving here. We married in 2010 and live in the neighborhood. I held various jobs in my time in Portland but decided on a career working with at-risk youth after we fostered a teenage boy for about 3 years. I currently work for Morrison Child and Family Services in a program that serves as a temporary housing program for undocumented minors who were stopped at the southern border.

I have really enjoyed my time in masonry and am looking forward to continuing my journey in the craft.

Matthew Cox
Junior Deacon