Hundreds line up to pay tribute to fallen Millard County sheriff's deputy Josie Fox

DELTA — A town said goodbye to its heroine Sunday night.

More than 1,000 people braved cold temperatures to stand in line to pay their respects to Millard County Sheriff's deputy Josie Greathouse Fox, 37, shot and killed in the line of duty on Jan. 5 while making a traffic stop on U.S. 50 on a suspected burglar.

The line for Sunday's viewing was so long that the doors were opened a half-hour early.

"It's a great tribute to the service she gave to our community," said Kyle Rawley. Rawley's wife, Shannon, went to high school with Fox. "That's why we're all taking it so personally."

Relatives, friends and her fellows in the law enforcement community, including sheriffs and chiefs from numerous departments both across Utah and outside the state, were in attendance at the Millard County Fairgrounds building Sunday. All of them recalled Fox's zest for life.

"She would always lighten up the room," said Pete Madsen, who worked for Josie's parents for many years. Sunday, Madsen used words like "lost" and "empty" to describe how people were feeling without Fox.

"It should never have been. Just a waste of human life," he said. "She's just a great person."

Fox will be laid to rest today during a funeral service at the Delta LDS Stake Center, 145 S. White Sage Ave. Gov. Gary Herbert is expected to be among the dignitaries in attendance.

Inside the fairground building Sunday, Fox's casket was placed under a Millard County sheriff's flag and was surrounded by numerous wreaths sent by family members, friends and several law enforcement agencies. One wreath was in the shape of a Millard County sheriff's badge with a black stripe across the front. Another was of her deputy's hat.

On a table surrounded by flowers, several of Fox's personal items were on display, including her uniform, hat and handcuffs. The sweat pants she wore while in the police academy were next to her Jiu-Jitsu uniform. Pictures and trophies from her years of competitive motocross racing were also on display. There were notes and stories she wrote as a child. One note, written in 1981 when she was 8, was addressed to the Easter bunny asking for a rabbit of her own.

"I won't let the dogs get it" she promised.

Another letter exemplified the kind of service she gave to her community, no matter how big or small the task. The letter was written by a man in 2005 thanking Josie for going above and beyond the call of duty to return a wallet that he had lost.