Nora Zell Wilcox

Nora Zell Higgins Wilcox peacefully passed away Thursday after a long gallant fight with COPD and congestive heart failure. Her will to live and remain independent was an inspiration to all that knew her and fueled the spirit of the doctors, nurses, and physical therapists that returned her home many times.

Born August 11, 1927, the youngest of 10 to John Russell and Henrietta Higgins, Nora grew up on the Depression era farm in Joy, Ok., attending school in the old one-room school house. Hardship, hard work, and simple joys were just a way of life for her and her best friend, twin-sister Dora. Nora and Dora were rarely apart choosing to do everything together, even sharing their ever-willing pet rooster they liked to dress up like a doll. Later, the pair moved to Oklahoma City where they would excel together on the girls basketball team and graduate from Putnam City High School.

Nora worked at the Federal Reserve Bank in OKC and later Memphis, TN, after marrying Charles Wilcox of OKC in 1951. While working for the Fed in Memphis, Nora was tasked with finding entertainment for the annual company picnic so she hired a local little-known singer, the soon to be famous Elvis Presley. She recounted that he was very polite but too shy to join in when it was time to eat, so she took him a hotdog and coke and they just talked while he ate. Such was Nora’s eye for talent.

Shortly after their only child Charles Jr. was born, the family moved back to Oklahoma City. When he started school, Nora became a stay at home mother. During this time she was active in PTA, a Cub Scout den mother, an avid gardner, and golfer. After moving to Surrey Hills in the early 70’s, she and husband Charles Sr. became active in the Canadian County Republican Party and the Surrey Hills Lions Club.

When Charles Jr. started high school, Nora returned to work. The developer of the then fledgling Reno – Meridian corridor of OKC hired her as a bookkeeper but as fate would have it, she soon became property manager of the recently developed Aero Meridian Distribution Center warehousing complex. A few years later, when Aero Meridian was purchased by a private investment family, Nora started her own company, NW Property Management, to manage family’s portfolio of nearly one million square feet of warehousing properties in OKC. With tenants such as CR Anthony Co., Hobby Lobby, and the FAA, she quickly establishing a 97% occupancy rate that continued until Nora retired in 2002 at age 75.

After retiring, Nora stayed active continuing her lifelong loves of sharing her home with friends & family and decorating for the holidays. She and sister Dora remained nearly inseparable, living just blocks apart. They both attended Grace Methodist church and volunteered cooking mobile meals. Nora was an avid bridge player belonging to several bridge clubs and served as a fill-in for others. She also loved to work crossword puzzles and frustratingly followed her OKC Thunder hoping to see them win a championship.

Nora is survived by her son Charles Wilcox Jr. (Sherrie) of North Richland Hills, TX, and numerous nieces, nephews, and their families.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Melvin Wilcox, Sr., died 1992. Also preceding her were her parents, John Russell Higgins and Henrietta Woods Higgins; four sisters: Flossie Kaywood, Ellamae Huffines, Mary Ball, and Dora Grant; and five brothers: John Higgins, Henry Higgins, Oliver Higgins, Bill Higgins, and Roland Higgins.

Viewing hours will 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home and she will be laid to rest in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.