Memorial for Norma Jo Cohenour Young ’83
Nov. 4, 1946—Dec. 14, 2019
Norma Jo Young, 73, of Columbia, Mo., passed away at her home at 3 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. No public services are planned at his time.
Norma was born Nov. 4, 1946, in Sterling, Ill., the daughter of Dale F. Cohenour and Elvera Schwark. On May 27, 1967, she was united in marriage to Frank Young, who survives at their home.
Norma was a wonderful stay-at-home mother who took great pride in raising her two daughters. It was in 1975, at the age of 29, that she undertook the task of earning her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Millikin University in Decatur, Ill., while she and Frank raised their two girls, who were ages 5 and 7 at the time. She would graduate in 1983 with both her degree and her certification as a registered nurse.
She spent time working at several hospitals in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where she also ran a nursing home. In Columbia, she worked at University Hospital and began the newcomer program.
Her passions were working in geriatrics, psychiatrics and hospice care, emblematic of her caring nature. She also opened, owned and operated her own home health business in Columbia in 1996.
She was a loving mother and grandmother who will be remembered for her personality as a nurturing, strong-willed, caring and independent woman who never once blinked at what the world threw at her. Her boundless empathy, sympathy and compassion made her an inspiration to everyone she met.
Norma is survived by her husband, Frank; their daughters, Jennifer (John) Kurtz of Summerville, S. C., and Becky Mitten (Robert Bowman) of Columbia; their grandchildren, Sam Mitten, Ben Mitten, Reed Kurtz and Ali Kurtz; and a host of cousins and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
