MCLEANSBORO – Nancy Jo Smith-Cox, 80, of McLeansboro, died peacefully Dec. 21, 2025, after a lengthy illness.

She was born Aug. 15, 1945, in McLeansboro. She spent her early childhood there before moving to East St. Louis with her parents. She attended grade school in East St. Louis and graduated from East St. Louis High School. Following graduation, she worked for several years as a bank teller and attended Corner Stone Christian Church.

Nancy and her parents returned to McLeansboro in the mid-1970s, where she was employed as a teller at Peoples National Bank. She enjoyed greeting townspeople and building relationships with her customers. She also sold Mary Kay Cosmetics, a role that brought her great joy through interacting with clients. Nancy spent many hours babysitting and was known for sharing homemade treats with the children she cared for.

She attended McLeansboro First Christian Church, where she enjoyed praise and worship services and fellowship with parishioners. She married Kenneth Cox in 1984, and together they settled on her family homestead south of McLeansboro.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Cox; her parents, Sam and Dorothy (Wilson) Smith; several aunts and uncles; and cousins.

Survivors include a brother-in-law, Bob (Jo Ann) Cox of McLeansboro; a sister-in-law, Denise (Bill) Barker of McLeansboro; an aunt, Patricia Wilson of Cleveland, Ga.; cousins: Barbara (Randy) Harvey of Lawrenceburg, Ky., Mary (Gary) McMahon of McLeansboro, Rob (Janice) Crow of McLeansboro, Tom (Mick) Crow of Rockport, Tx., Brenda (Dennis) Vineyard of Edwardsville, Ill., and Lisa Wade of Cleveland, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.

The family thanks the caregivers of SSM Hospice and the staff of Silver Foxes Senior Living and Rehabilitation for their dedication and compassionate care.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at noon Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at Gholson Funeral Home in McLeansboro, with Pastor Rodney Brock officiating. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Burial of ashes will follow at Blooming Grove Cemetery north of McLeansboro.

Memorial donations may be made to SSM Hospice, Silver Foxes Senior Living and Rehabilitation, or St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Donations will be accepted at Gholson Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be shared at www.gholsonfuneralhome.com.