Catherine E. Wilcox

Catherine Elizabeth (Cochran) Wilcox

Cathy was born on April 17, 1944, during a spring blizzard in Dighton, KS, to George Daniel Cochran and Margaret Charles Cochran. She departed this life to be with her Lord on May 25, 2023 at 11:10 AM.

Cathy was educated in the Dighton, KS schools, graduating from high school in 1962. She attended the University of Kansas, graduating with a degree in Speech Pathology in 1966. During the college years, Cathy was involved in Chi Omega sorority, People-to-People, and Methodist Youth Fellowship, as well as various committees at the university. During this time, she also met Howard Wilcox, and following graduation they married on June 26, 1966 in Dighton. They moved to Kansas City, KS where Howard attended KU Medical School and Cathy worked in the Antioch School District as a speech and language therapist. In 1970, their first child, Brennan was born and in 1973 their daughter, Kirsten, joined the family.

In 1975, the family moved to Hays, KS where they lived for the next 28 years. There they established deep roots in the community and raised their children. Cathy volunteered in the public schools, served on city committees, was a CASA volunteer, served as a Stephen's Minister at the First United Methodist Church.
She was a graduate of Leadership Hays. In 1993, Cathy served as state president of the Kansas Medical Society Alliance and drove over 20,000 miles by car and also traveled by air that year in support of medicine in Kansas. She also worked at Fort Hays State University in the technology department as a grant writer and seminar assistant, and subsequently at the FHSU Endowment Association as the Development Coordinator.

In 2003, Cathy and Howard moved to Olathe, KS, where they currently reside.
Cathy was involved in many church activities at Church of the Resurrection West in Olathe, where she served as a Congregational Care Minister. She was also an active member of Chapter GP of P.E.O, becoming a 50-year Golden Girl in 2014; a member of Quivira Crossing Chapter of DAR; and served on the boards of Kansas Children's Service League and Foundation.

Cathy was preceded in death by her beloved grandparents, parents, stepfather (Forrest Hardacre), older sister, Carol Ann Brown, and brother Charles Cochran and his wife, Sharon.

She is survived by her husband, Howard, her children, Brennan and Jenny Wilcox of Topeka, KS; Kirsten and John Frazey of Beavercreek, Ohio, her much beloved grandchildren Justis and Britin Frazey and Alex and Aidan Wilcox, her nieces and nephews Sean and Kristen Cochran, Cherri Cochran, Jared and Moriah Cochran and children Clayton, Lane, Ross and Gavin, and Jaime Cochran; her brother Curt and his son Josh and Kim Cochran and their daughter Matilda; her brother in law Tom and Dottie Brown and his children Todd, Cory and Vicki Brown and their children Ethan and Ryder; and Amy and Frankz Jacobsen and their children Jared, Jessie and Julia; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Loving God, family, and friends were Cathy's primary focus. She loved to care for people whenever the need was seen and she loved her family with great passion.

Family requests memorials to Church of the Resurrection West, 24000 W. Valley Parkway, Olathe, KS 66061.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, July 8th at Church of the Resurrection West; with visitation offered at 10:00am, followed by a service at 11:00am.

Penwell-Gabel Olathe Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.

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