Elaine Dickson McCoy's Obituary
Elaine Dickson McCoy went home to be with her Lord and Savior April 20, 2010 after a long and heroic battle with cancer. Elaine was born in Tippo, Mississippi, February 10, 1936. She attended and graduated from high school in Charleston, Mississippi, and graduated from Delta State Teachers' College in Cleveland, Mississippi, in 1957 with a degree in Home Economics. Following her college graduation, she spent the summer working in a friend's family restaurant in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where she met the love of her life. She taught high school home economics in West Tallahatchie, Mississippi, for a year prior to her marriage to Bart McCoy, June 1, 1958. Bart and Elaine celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June, 2008.
Elaine's life reflected a personal relationship and commitment to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, forever loving others and putting them before herself. Elaine worked as a teacher and Director of the Oakland Heights Child Development Center for twenty seven years before retiring in 1998. Elaine was an expert in organizing, planning, and knowing what could be and should be done. If Elaine were responsible, it would be done on time, on budget, and done right, never bringing attention to herself. The joy of her life, other than serving her Lord and Savior, had always been her family and especially her five grandchildren. She loved them with every fiber of her body and they never doubted it. They will forever be thankful for the deep well of love they received from their Nana, and that love will always be a part of who they are and will be.
Elaine and Bart have been active members of Oakland Heights Baptist Church since 1967. Their church and their many friends have always been a major part of their daily lives. In addition to her work at the Child Development Center, she served on many committees, taught Sunday school, and was involved in other leadership responsibilities.
Elaine was the eighth of eleven children born to her parents, Jim Tom and Nellie Dickson. Preceding Elaine in death were her parents, her sister, Alene Jetton, and brothers Archie Dickson and Pat Dickson. She is survived by her husband of fifty one years, Bart McCoy; her three children, Kurt McCoy, Terri M. Ripley and her husband, Bruce Ripley, and Gregg McCoy; grandchildren, Klint McCoy and his wife Dana, and Alicia McCoy and their mother Norma Kline; Derek Ripley and Abby Ripley, Kelsey McCoy and her mother Lauren McCoy; her sisters Margaret Wulff; Iris Mitchell; Louise Brown and her husband, Vance; Clovis Cole and her husband, Thomas; Jean Torbert; Arlas LaMastus and her husband, Ed; and brother John Dickson and his wife Peggy; brothers –in-law Keith McCoy and his wife Donna; Jeff McCoy and his wife Tina; step mother-in-law Delphia McCoy; and many nieces and nephews that have been very special in her life.
We give special appreciation to her many care providers: Beacon Hospice; Texas Oncology, Dr. Larry Frase and his staff that have done so much to show care and compassion. We will forever be thankful to the west side fourth floor oncology wing at Good Shepherd. How thankful we are for the many caring friends we made during our many hospital stays these past seven months. You are truly special. May God bless all of you for your caring and kindness to us.
Services will be 2 p.m. Friday, April 23, 2010, at Oakland Heights Baptist Church, with Pastor Kevin Bright, and Pastor Steve Wilson officiating. Interment will follow in Rosewood Park cemetery under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview.
The family will receive friends at Rader funeral home from 6 – 8 p.m. Thursday, April 22, 2010. Donations can be made to the Oakland Heights Baptist Church Child Development Center, Elaine McCoy Memorial Fund.
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