FAIRFIELD – Irene “Renie” Cox, 59, of Fairfield, died unexpectedly Wednesday morning, July 28, at her home.

She was born July 11, 1945, in Farmington, a daughter of Cecil B. and Evelyn (Lincoln) Cox, of East Wilton. She graduated from Wilton Academy in 1964. She attended Thomas College in Waterville and graduated in 1970 from the University of Maine Presque Isle with a B.S. in Physical Education. She received a Masters in Social Work from the University of Connecticut in 1983, and began her work as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

She loved all sports and sporting events. She worked as a physical education teacher, coach, referee, water safety instructor, and a small crafts Instructor.

She directed the swim program at Wilton Recreation for several years. She loved pets, especially her golden retrievers, Katie and Cassie, and her cats, Minnie, Max, and Mollie. They were her “kids.”

She worked as a devoted social worker and established Stepping Stones Counseling Service in Fairfield.

She was very dedicated to the care of her clients.

She was an active member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and co-chairman of NASW, Area B. She supported many humane associations including the Rape Crisis Center, Family Violence Center, the GLBT; and Women Working in Maine.

She is survived by her mother, Evelyn L. Stinson, of Wilton; her life partner, Ellen Villa, of Fairfield; two sisters, Sandra M. Starbird, of Wilton and Nancy L. and her husband, Malcolm (Mac) Morris, of Livermore Falls; a brother, Bertron E. Cox and his wife, Gail, of Scarborough; a half-brother, John Cox, of New Sharon; a stepmother, Ruth Cox, of New Sharon; a number of nieces and nephews, Deborah Anderson, of Salem, N.H., Earl Young, of Livermore, Cathy Smith, of Wichita, Kan., Carrie Barnes, of Jay, Charles Greeley, of Livermore, Tony Cox, of Standish, Laurie Russo, of Portland, and Jeff Cox, of Limerick; and many great-nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her father, Cecil B. Cox, of New Sharon in 1984; and her stepfather, Howard A. Stinson, of Wilton in 1987.