Cheryl Nowka, daughter of the late Lucille “Mother of the Mother Road” Hamons of Lucille’s in Hydro, Okla., died at age 63 over the weekend, according to an obituary in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
According to posts on the Route 66 yahoogroup, Nowka had been ill for some time and spent her final days in a hospice.
Although she lived in Las Vegas for 30 years and wasn’t as well known as her famed mother, Nowka still played a prime role on Route 66.
She was one of the first to harness the Internet for the Mother Road. She developed 66-related websites, including one for Lucille’s and her mother. She also was one of the first members of the Route 66 e-group, which now numbers more than 2,000 from around the world.
At a time when her mother was in danger of losing her business because of the high expense of removing underground gas tanks from the property, Nowka self-published a history book about Lucille’s and used the proceeds to pay for the remediation.
Nowka also made sure a caretaker checked on her aging mother before her death in 2000. And she also made certain Lucille’s would be preserved as a landmark by its new owner. Lucille’s no longer operates, but it was restored, and still stands today.
A portion of the obituary reads:
“Cheryl was a cowgirl who barrel raced, rode a bull, as well as jockeying race horses, a musician who could play the piano and French horn … a singer, a dancer, a poet and an artist …”
She is survived by her husband Paul and two sons, Kevin and Jason.
Services will be privately held by Affordable Cremation and Burial Service of Las Vegas.
Services for Cheryl Hamons Nowka will be held Friday, July 1 at Palm Mortuary located at Smoke Ranch and Jones with Crematory services to be held at Palm Mortuary 1325 N. Main. Viewing services at Smoke Ranch and Jones will commence at 11:00 AM followed by Crematory services at 2:00 PM.