WILSON-LITTLE FUNERAL HOME

PURCELL-NEWCASTLE, MCCLAIN CO, OK

(permission granted)

Nova Merle Henderson Cox was born March 15, 1935 to Leroy and Fleda (Smith) Henderson at their ranch home in the Saddle Mountain community south of Mountain View, Oklahoma.  She graduated from Cooperton High School in 1953, and from Oklahoma A & M, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, with a degree in Elementary education in May 1957. She completed additional course work at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Nova passed from this life to eternity on October 27, 2018 at the Purcell Municipal Hospital where she had recently been a patient. Nova’s health had declined over the past six months following a stroke which had led to her residing at the Sunset Nursing Home in Purcell until her most recent illness.

After graduation from college Nova taught in Ft Worth, TX and in Oklahoma City, OK before marrying Charles Richard Cox of Meers, OK on May 31, 1959. The newlyweds planned to make their home in Saddle Mountain but moved to Edmond after their second son, Doug, was born.   The hope was to find better medical care and opportunities for Doug in the Oklahoma City area.  This passion and desire would lead to her involvement with the EARC (The Edmond Association of Retarded Citizens). The establishment of The Exceptional Child Learning Center, two Thrift stores, a vocational and prevocational center, and eventually The Meadows, a facility that provides opportunities for those with special needs to learn job skills so they can be contributing members of their community.  In 1988, the Nova Centre was built where Doug and 19 other young men and women took residency. This facility provided immediate care to individuals with more severe developmental or physical disabilities. Nova’s love for Doug inspired many other programs that have been established for Oklahoma citizens with physical and developmental challenges.

Because of the time needed to care for Doug, Nova worked extra hard to make sure her first born son, Thad, was not neglected of her time and commitment. Nova and Dick encouraged and supported Thad in his passion for horses.  The family spent many hours on the road as Thad showed his horses, showed sheep in FFA and later the establishment of a cattle and horse ranch in Purcell.

Because of her many selfless hours in raising money and creating opportunities for those with disabilities, Nova was the recipient of many awards and recognition, including being featured in the 1989, 4^th grade Oklahoma History book.  She also was honored as Oklahoma Women of the Year.   However, as much as she loved her sons and her life’s work, she was overjoyed when Thad and his wife Theresa gave her the title of “Nana.”  Nova loved watching Heath and Hailey grow up, both graduating from college and beginning their own careers.

Preceding Nova in death are her, husband, Charles Richard “Dick” Cox and son Randall Douglas Cox; parents, Leroy and Fleda Henderson; sister, Fleda Lee Jennings and brother, William Edgar "Bill" Henderson.

Nova leaves her son, Richard Thad Cox and his wife Theresa, of Purcell; Grandson, Heath Cox of Comanche, Texas and granddaughter, Hailey Cox of Weatherford, Texas, and sister-in-law, Mary Ruth Henderson of Saddle Mountain, along with numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be on Monday, Oct. 29, at Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Purcell.

Her Funeral Service will be 11:00 AM. Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, at Union Hill Baptist Church, Purcell, OK.

Interment will follow at the Hillside Cemetery in Purcell.

Donations can be made in her honor to the Nova Centre, 330 W Danforth Rd, Edmond, OK 73003.

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