As Millard County Sheriff Robert Dekker described the loss of Deputy Josie Fox, the words flowed almost as freely as the tears.

"We lost a real good lady today, and a great cop," he said. "Everybody feels a great sense of loss. We don't just work together, we become law-enforcement family, and we've lost a great member of that family who enjoyed what she did."

Fox, 37, was shot to death Tuesday morning when she pulled over a vehicle on U.S. Highway 50 near Delta. Colleagues and the community alike remembered the wife and mother of two not only for her work ethic and positive attitude, but also her abundance of compassion.

Steve Alexander, a former Salt Lake County sheriff's deputy who now lives in Delta, called Fox "a true public servant."

"This community has lost a gem," he said. "Josie was a true treasure."

Fox began her law-enforcement career with the Millard County Sheriff's Office more than five years ago. In addition to patrolling the Delta area, she made sure sex offenders in the area were registered with the state registry and worked on gang assignments. She had a teen daughter and son, and Dekker said her ability to connect with youth is what made her such a special member of the force.

"She had an uncanny ability to work with youth. They seemed to trust her. She'd talk to them on and off duty," Dekker said. "She could almost always solve a juvenile crime for us. If she couldn't, it probably wasn't done by local

kids."

That relationship led Delta's youth to organize a candlelight vigil for the fallen deputy Tuesday night.

Braden Johnson, one of the vigil's organizers, said he has always known Fox and been close to his family.

"She was awesome to the community," said the 17-year-old Johnson. "It's our time to give back."

Another vigil organizer, Levi Bettis, said Fox arrested him in 2007 for drug possession. She gave Bettis "a talking to," he said, and told him "If you work with me, I'll work with you."

"She got me out of a couple of felonies," Bettis said.

"I feel more or less robbed right now and I think the community does, too," said Bettis, 22.

Robyn Woodbury, 35, had her 16-year-old daughter run away last year. Woodbury said Fox worked more than 32 hours, including time she was supposed to be off-duty, to help find her daughter.

"So I owe her," Woodbury said.

"That girl has her compassionate merit badge," Alexander said.

Diane Mecham, a relative of Fox, was there for Fox's first day on the force. An all-terrain vehicle overturned and a woman was pinned underneath at the top of Oak City Canyon, near where Mecham and her husband were camping.

Fox responded and, with other police and medical personnel, climbed the canyon's rugged terrain to reach the woman. When the emergency responders placed the woman on a backboard, Mecham said, Fox held her head and repeatedly told her "it's not that much farther. It'll be OK. We're going to get her down."

A helicopter flew the woman to a hospital and she recovered, Mecham said. After the helicopter left, someone asked Fox what she thought of her first day.

"She said, 'Well, it isn't bad when you're helping people like this,'" Mecham said.

"She cared," Mecham said. "Everyone I've talked to today told me she put her heart and soul into her job."

Alexander himself met Fox about five years ago when his wife had a seizure and Fox responded to the call. Alexander said she arrived before medical personnel and stayed with his wife the whole time, even riding to the hospital in the ambulance while holding her hand.

From there, a friendship blossomed.

"The conversations always led into law enforcement," said Alexander, who spent about 30 years as a peace officer. "She picked my brains about how I might respond to this or that."

Alexander, who himself was shot while on duty, said domestic disputes and traffic stops are the most dangerous calls a police officer takes. During a traffic stop "you don't know what's in that car, especially at night," he said.

By early afternoon, the community began to share its condolences for a woman well known throughout the area.

About 1 p.m., Fox's friend David Frandsen was putting up a sign outside his gas station in Lynndyl, a few miles north of Delta, that read: "With our heartfelt sorrow, Josie. You will be missed."

The Millard County sheriff echoed those thoughts.

"She loved her work. She was always smiling. She enjoyed helping and assisting people," Dekker said. "She just gave her all."

Nate Carlisle contributed to this report.

Honoring Deputy Josie Fox

Josie Fox is the 129th Utah police officer to die in the line of duty and the second woman to have been killed. The Utah Peace Officers Association said Fox will be honored at the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony in May.

Fox's name, on a bronze plaque, will be added to the $1.3 million memorial wall dedicated in 2008.

Aaron Rosen, the chaplain for the Utah Peace Officers Association, advises there are three ways to donate to Fox's survivors.

The association has an endowment to help with funeral expenses and other family needs. The Utah Law Enforcement Memorial, Inc., has a fund for children of deceased officers. Donations to both can be made at 5671 S. Redwood Road, Taylorsville, UT 84123. Or visit upoa.org or utahsfallen.org.

Rosen says the public can also send donations to the Millard County Sheriff's Office, 765 S. Highway 99, Fillmore, UT 84631. Indicate the donations are for Fox's family.