Nicole was born to Jerry & Cathy (Bozwell) Whisler. Nicole graduated from Centerville High School with the class of 2000, and then went on to continue her education at the University of Northern Iowa. She graduated in 2004, with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. In 2006, Nicole received her Master of Arts in Education in K-12 School Counseling.

Nicole was employed at Strawberry Hill Elementary School in Anamosa as an Elementary School Counselor. At Strawberry Hill, Nicole was instrumental in creating the Watch D.O.G.S. program designed to organize fathers and father figures to provide positive male role models for students. Nicole was also very passionate about Sexual Abuse Prevention of Children and was a leader in expanding the Safety Curriculums used in the school district. She had also recently became a facilitator for the Darkness to Light Stewards of Children prevention program designed to give parents the skills to prevent abuse from happening to their children. Nicole also played a big hand with other teachers in the Kindergarten Sneak Peak program to help students get a jump start to their Kindergarten year.

In 2011, Nicole received the Gary Henrichs Memorial Award for school counseling at the Iowa School Counselors Conference. She was also a member of the American School Counseling Association and the Iowa School Counselor Association. She recently became a part of the University of Northern Iowa's School Counseling Program Advisory Board. Nicole looked forward everyday to going to school to be with her students and colleagues whom she loved dearly. She often stated she was working in her dream job.

Nicole married Ryan Cox on July 31, 2010 - the greatest and most proud achievement of her life was the birth of her son, Kiptyn Matthew Cox on January 21, 2010. Kiptyn was the light of her life. She loved her entire family whole heartedly and with passion.

Nicole is survived by her husband Ryan Cox and son Kiptyn Cox both of Anamosa, parents Jerry and Cathy Whisler of Centerville, brother Mason (Taren) Whisler of Centerville, grandparents, Robert and Barbara Bozwell of Centerville. She is also survived by aunts and uncles, Robert Bozwell Jr. (Debbie), Dustin Bozwell (Karen), Connie Stephens (Pat), Clifford Whisler, Delbert Whisler (Pam) and Kevin Whisler (Marsha), all of Centerville, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and great aunts and uncles. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Don & Leora Whisler and her two loving puppies, Mishka & Tillie.