St. George, Utah - Winona (Nonie) Cox, age 75, graduated life on October 27, 2022, in Springville, UT. She was born February 23, 1947, to David Thurston Lehman and Audrey Rose Sanford in Montebello, CA.

Nonie lived the majority of her life in California. She grew up in Montebello, with her younger brother, David Blanchard. As a family they loved going to the beaches in Southern California, specifically Carpinteria. It was in Montebello where she met and married John Lowrey at 18 years old and began raising her first three children. Following the dissolution of that marriage, she began working at Montessori Children's Center where she was in charge of the after-school program. It was here that she met Michael Dean Cox, her oldest daughter's teacher.

They married on February 24, 1973, in West Covina, California and they were later sealed on February 23, 1974, in the St. George Temple, St. George, Utah. On this occasion they were married for time and all eternity as a couple and sealed as a family.

During the first few years of their marriage, Nonie and Michael continued living in Southern California while Nonie received her Montessori training. While there, they had their fourth child.

They subsequently moved to the Monterey Bay area along the central coast of California where they completed their family by adding two more children. In 1975 they opened Deseret Montessori School which they owned and operated for over 25 years.

Nonie loved many things about her life in Monterey - the beaches, teaching the 'little people' (as she would call her young students), running a thriving business that offered her the ability to bless the lives around her, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, providing years of generous service to her ward members, and opening her home and heart to anyone in need. It was here that she touched many lives and established dear friendships. Most of all, she loved raising her family - creating unforgettable experiences and encouraging extraordinary growth opportunities. She was known for maintaining a multitude of traditions to try and make every moment special, and, in general, "making memories that would last for more than just a lifetime."

After retirement, Nonie and Michael moved to Hanford, CA. During this time, they had many opportunities to serve in their community and around the world. Their most cherished experience was serving together for eighteen months on a full-time mission in Thailand, where they also helped in the efforts to grow a community of Latter-Day Saints in neighboring Laos.

In 2017 Michael and Nonie moved to Springville, UT, to be closer to their youngest grandchildren. It is from Springville that they would both 'graduate' earth-life; first Michael in 2018 and now Nonie four years later. That was four years longer than she wished to be without him and the joy of their reunion comforts our hearts immensely.

Their life was exemplary, and they've only just begun …

She is preceded in death by her son David Lowrey and survived by her 5 children: Kimberly [& Kevin] Kessler, Wendy [& David] Oberst, Amanda [& Stephen] Martin, Bethany [& Dan] Andrews, Jeremiah [& Chad] Cox. She is further survived by her 19 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

Her 'Graduation Ceremony' (funeral) will be Saturday, November 19, 2022, at 10 am at Metcalf Mortuary 288 West, St. George Blvd. St George, Utah. A viewing will be held beforehand, starting at 9 am. at the mortuary. Interment will follow the conclusion of services at the Tonaquint Cemetery 1777 South Dixie Drive, St George Utah.