Darrel Lyle Cox

Darrel Lyle Cox

July 24, 1936 - July 1, 2015

HAYES CENTER, Neb. -- Darrel Lyle Cox was born on July 24, 1936, to Elmer Lee Cox and Reva May (Horn) Cox. He was born on the family farm eight miles north of Hamlet, Nebraska. On this date, the temperature in Nebraska reached 118 degrees -- the hottest day ever recorded in the state. He grew up in Hayes County with four brothers and three sisters.

Darrel attended elementary school in Hayes County and graduated from Hayes County High School in 1955. He married his high school sweetheart, Norma Jane McNutt on May 12, 1956. They recently celebrated 59 years of marriage. To this union four children were born, Mick, Mark, Melanie and Maury.

Darrel attended college at McCook Junior College and Chadron State College. Darrel's first career was in education. He taught seven years in Hamlet Public Schools, where he also was a coach and principal. He then moved to Hayes Center Schools where he was a teacher, coach and principal. In 1970, Darrel retired from teaching and took the opportunity to pursue his love of farming. Darrel moved his family back to farmstead close to where he was born and became a successful farmer of corn, wheat, pinto beans and sunflowers. He combined his love of learning and love of the land. He was one of the first farmers in Hayes County to install pivot irrigation systems for his crops. He also had an Angus commercial cow/calf herd.

Community was important to Darrel. He was active leader in his community and served on the Hayes County School Board, the ESU No.15 board, and the Hamlet Co-op Board. He also spent many years serving as a Hayes County commissioner.

Darrel passed away at the Imperial Manor on July 1, 2015, with his loving wife by his side. He lived a big and full life and touched the lives of students, friends and family.

He will be missed by many and leaves to mourn his wife, Norma; three children, Mick (Marlene) Cox, Melanie (Matt) Clark and Maury (Debbie) Cox; son by choice, Doran Beebe; three brothers, Merle (Cathy) Cox, Lee (Janice) Cox and Pat Cox; three sisters, Gloria (Leland) Messersmith, Rosalie (Gary) Hastings and Linda (Joe) Shandera. His kind spirit will be greatly missed by his 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Reva (Horn); his son, Mark; and brother, Duane

Funeral services were at the Union Congregational Church of Christ in Hayes Center today, July 6, 2015.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Darrel's name for a scholarship to be established at the Hayes Center Public Schools. Friends may leaver on-line condolences at herrmannfh.com.

Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook is in charge of arrangements.