Norma J. Cooksey, 89, of Centralia, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia. She was born at her parents’ home on Elm St. in Centralia on June 28, 1936, the daughter of Eugene and Helen (Allen) Greer in Centralia. She married the love of her life, David L. Cooksey, on June 7, 1955, at the RLDS Church in Centralia, and he preceded her in death on December 30, 2012.
Norma is survived by her children: Michael Cooksey and wife Donna, Centralia, IL; Diana Cozadd and husband Brian, Springfield, IL; Gina Richardson and husband Randal, Carlyle, IL; Joseph Cooksey and wife Teresa, Centralia, IL; four grandchildren, Jennifer McCarrey, Mt. Zion, IL; Amanda Cooksey, Centralia, IL; Jason Israel (Alicia), Crown Point, IN; and Andrew Cooksey (Sierra), O’Fallen, MO; . In addition, Norma is survived by seven great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Colton, Layla, Collin, Michael, Emmett, and Savannah; and several nieces and nephews, extended family members, and friends.
Along with her husband of 57 years, David Cooksey, Norma was preceded in death by her parents; her twin brother, Norman Greer; and her grandson, Randal Richardson Jr.
Norma was a homemaker while her children were young, a dental assistant and a pharmacist assistant at Byrd Watson Drug and Frank’s Pharmacy. In addition, Norma and her husband co-owned Cooksey Oil Company with their sons.
Norma was a talented singer. She was a member of the Centralia Cultural Society throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s, and appeared in many musicals, including The Sound Of Music, Music Man, Oklahoma!, and Hello, Dolly.
She was also a member of the Centralia chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, where she made lifelong friends and participated in community projects.
One of Norma’s favorite pastimes was traveling to watch her son Joe race in the NASCAR ARCA series on tracks throughout the U.S. during the 1990’s and throughout the 2000’s. She was usually the only mom in the pits, but Norma couldn’t imagine not sitting behind the pit wall, counting laps.
At the time of her passing, Norma resided at Heritage Woods Assisted Living in Centralia, IL, where she had many good friends and took care of her beloved cats, Willy and Lilly. She openly shared her Faith in Jesus Christ with those around her. She was known at Heritage Woods as someone who would gladly pray with you, no matter where you were.
A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Centralia. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Centralia, where Norma will be laid to rest beside her husband, David. Relatives and friends are welcome to a visitation time to offer words of support and comfort to Norma’s family from 12:00 p.m. until the time of the service on Thursday at the funeral home, 324 Elm St. in Centralia. Online condolences and memories of Norma may be shared with the family by visiting maczfuneralhomes.com and/or on the funeral home’s Facebook page.
