Norma Jane McNutt Cox, lifelong resident of Hayes County, passed away on Thursday, May 2, 2019, with her children at her side. Norma was born to Nathan and Dorothy (French) McNutt on Aug. 30, 1938.
    The people she touched know Norma as a generous spirit who loved to laugh, spend time with her family and tell it like it is.
    On May 12, 1956 she married her high school sweetheart, Darrel Lyle Cox and this life-long partnership lasted 59 years until Darrel’s death in 2015. She missed him dearly and looked forward to their reunion.
    Norma attended early elementary school in Hayes Center and finished her grade school education in a country school after her family moved to a farm eight miles west of Hayes Center.
    She graduated from HCHS in 1955. She taught school in a one room school house for two years. She attended college at McCook Junior College and took correspondence classes from Wyoming State University.
    To the union of Norma and Darrel four children were born Mick, Mark, Melanie and Maury. In 1970 they moved to a farm west of Hayes Center where they raised their family.
    Norma was a member of the Rebekah Lodge. She was an avid Husker football fan. She loved to read, cook and play cards and was an excellent baker. She worked for Nebraska Department of Social Services for 25 years and touched many lives.
    Her greatest joy was spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They will all miss visiting Grammy’s house where they were always greeted with a hug and plenty cookies.
    She will be missed by many and leaves to mourn three children, Mick (Marlene) Cox; Melanie (Matt) Clark and Maury (Debra) Cox; son by choice Doran Beebe; sister Doris Bryson of Linnville, Texas; three brothers-in-law Merle (Cathy) Cox; Lee (Janice) Cox; Pat Cox; three sisters-in-law Gloria (Leland) Messersmith; Rosalie (Gary) Hastings and Linda (Joe) Shandera; eleven grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren who loved her and will miss her unconditional love.
    Norma was preceded in death by her husband Darrel; her son Mark; her parents Nathan and Dorothy McNutt; sisters Bonnie Sevier and Louise (Tucker) Harron and brother Robert McNutt.
  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Norma’s name to the Darrel Cox scholarship fund established at the Hayes Center Public Schools.
  Friends may send words of comfort to the family at www.herrmannfh.com.
  Visitation was Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook.
    Funeral Service were held Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at Union Congregational Church in Hayes Center with Pastor Jean Miller officiating. Burial followed in the Hayes Center Cemetery.