Norma I. Cox

Norma Oestman Cox went to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 15, 2015. Norma was born on October 9, 1924 in Wray, Colorado to her parents, Fred G. and Jennie Oestman. She was number 10 of 11 children. She grew up on the family ranch Northwest of Wray, CO and attended country schools, graduating from Wray High School in 1942. After Graduation, Norma went to Denver to seek employment. The Department of Defense hired her and she worked for 30 years. While employed at Lowry AFB in Denver, she met the love of her life, Leslie Cox, her boss. They were married in Denver, CO on May 10, 1947. While Les served in the Air Force, they were stationed in California, Florida, and Colorado. They had two daughters, Janet Walker and Sharon Spurlin. Most of her last twenty years of working were for the Air Force Academy. While there, she worked for an astronaut and a Thunderbird Pilot. She retired from there in 1984. Norma was a lifetime member of Glen Erie Eastern Star, VFW4051 auxiliary, 30 year member of TOPS weight loss group, and 50 year member of East United Methodist Church. Norma was an avid bowler in Colorado with a 155 average. She played golf, walked with a group at the Citadel, actively got involved with the sittersize group at Robinwood, participated in “Walk away the pounds: and daily played FARKLE with the ladies at Robinwood. She learned to play Mexican train dominoes, loved playing Bridge, Spades and Euchre. Norma moved from Colorado Springs to Memphis September 17, 2011 with everything that would fit in the Spurlin’s enclosed trailer, no easy feat. She spent a little over a year at Germantwon Plantation waiting for Robinwood to be completed. Jan had her name on the waiting list the day Resort Lifestyles announced they were coming to Bartlett! December 29, 2012, Norma started the move to Robinwood Apt. 238. What a great family she has here. Many close new friends and her Supreme Court buddies: Dorthea, Bunny, and Doris P. Norma is preceded in death by her husband Les and her brothers and sisters, Elmer, Fred, Roy, Dallas, Melvin, Jennie, Gladys, Pearl, Fern, and Velma. Those of us left behind will greatly miss her, including her daughters, Jan and Sharon, son in laws, Don and Bill, grandchildren, Lee, Maria, Janea, Tyler, Chelsea, and Chad, and great-grandchildren, Isabella and Sebastian. Many close nieces and nephews and a host of wonderful friends she adopted as family members have helped in celebrating a rich full life. Jewel Meyer, Lou Pepin and family, Gwen Endsley, Val Hoglin and many more. Norma loved life, loved to travel and did not let any grass grow under her feet. She and Les traveled to the East Coast and West. She made a trip to Japan to see Jan and Don when the Air Force took them abroad. At 80, she drove with Jewel to Florida and back. They flew to Hawaii for a week and traveled to Branson, Gatlinburg, and Granby many times. She attended the 100 year anniversary of her parents homestead on the Wray Ranch which is still in the Oestman family. Her bucket list was completed. At 90, pancreatic cancer was the last thing she expected, but with that determined spirit, she never complained about It, she just handled it with strength and grace. The diagnosis on December 8, 2014 was a shock. She chose no chemo or treatment but to live life to the fullest for the days she had left. We will always admire and love this brave woman. She talked to Jesus a few days prior and told him to please take her home. Her passing was s o peaceful. Family and friends had visited and cared for her this last month. That was her only request, not to go alone. Thank you to all who have helped us honor her wishes. Thank you for loving Norma and giving her your time and laughter, which she truly enjoyed.