Slain Millard County sheriff's deputy Josie Greathouse Fox laid to rest

DELTA — A town said goodbye Monday to one of its own who died while serving and protecting the place where she grew up.

The turnout for Millard County sheriff's deputy Josie Greathouse Fox's funeral was, according to some veteran officers, the largest they had ever seen for a law enforcement funeral in Utah.

Approximately 1,000 law enforcers from just about every department in the state as well as officers from Arizona, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and Nevada gathered in Delta to say goodbye.

The new Delta LDS Stake Center was standing room only — in every room, even the hallways. The stake center became so crowded that the overflow area had to be switched to an entirely different building, the Delta LDS 1st Ward meetinghouse.

Nearly 100 motorcycles led the funeral procession from the church to the Delta City Cemetery, where the small-town girl was buried. The line of officers was so long it took nearly an hour to move everyone to the grave site dedication.

"It's overwhelming, the support they've got for Josie right now," said Iron County sheriff's deputy Ron Skeem.

"When one of ours does pay the ultimate sacrifice, we need to support her," added St. George Police Sgt. Craig Harding.

Millard County Sheriff Robert Dekker was overwhelmed by the tremendous tribute Josie received.

"It's a trying day for law enforcement in the state, and especially in our community," Dekker said. "I am just in awe of the number of law enforcement people who have come."

The deputy was shot and killed Jan. 5 after pulling over a vehicle on U.S. 50 just outside of town. Her gun was still in its holster when she was found, leading some to speculate she was attacked without warning.

By all accounts, Josie was a person whom everyone in town knew and everyone liked, even those whom she arrested.

Her friends and former bosses fondly remembered her as a "wild child" growing up in town. She became familiar with many members of the sheriff's office before getting into law enforcement, former Millard County Sheriff Ed Phillips joked.

"She was seen in the principal's office so often some thought she was an employee," he said.

But Josie had a good heart. She would always help out others, and if anyone were to say bad things or cross any member of her family, she would jump to their defense, recalled sister Sandi Greathouse Ables.