William Joseph McCoy

January 13, 1926 - January 15, 2006

Obituary

William Joseph Bill McCoy

Bill McCoy passed away on January 15 in his Normandy Park home. He and his twin brother Bob were born on January 13, 1926, in Aberdeen, WA, to Clyde and Julia McCoy. Bill served in the Army Air Corps after graduating from Olympia High School. He earned a business degree from Washington State College, where he met and married Rita Henrikson. They raised three sons – John Toore, Jeffery William, and Brian James. After retiring from a procurement career at The Boeing Co. Bill contributed his woodworking skills to the restoration of “Fifi,” the last flying B-29, and built many decks, cabinets, furniture and toys for family, friends and acquaintances. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Mason, Catherine and Caryl, and his son Jeff. His is survived by his wife Rita, siblings Virginia and Bob, sons John Mary and Brian JoAnn, and grandchildren Connor, Kevin, Jessica and Travis. The family thanks the wonderful caregivers who helped Bill and Rita, especially Cyndi, Sheridan and Kristen. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for Highline Hospice. There will be a celebration of Bill’s life at a later date. The family invites you to share your memories of Bill in the online memorial at www.bonneywatson.com

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Jan Britt
Jan Britt
4 years ago

Uncle Bill always acted gruff, but had a kind and generous heart.

Neil Harmon
Neil Harmon
4 years ago

I was a classmate of Bill’s at OHS. There were seven of us who had enlisted in the Army Air Corps cadet program in WWII. The war ended before any of us got through the program. Saw Bill at class reunions and at Boeing. Good friend.

Pat Beals
Pat Beals
4 years ago

I am so sorry to learn of Bill’s passing. I worked for Bill for 7+ years and he was a great boss and great friend. We had a lot of fun besides having lots of work. There are so many things I remember and love about Bill; one that comes to mind first – when I was first pregnant, way back in winter of 1968; we worked in downtown Seattle and I was taking the bus to/from work. We had a real icy stretch and Bill insisted on picking me up in the mornings; being afraid I would slip and fall on the ice. What a great boss. He expected a lot from his employees specially his secretary but was always considerate and appreciative. I left Boeing in spring of 1969 and did not return until 1980. Bill and I kept in touch through Christmas Cards and an occasional phone call. When I returned in 1980, we did get together for lunch, but somehow we just lost touch. Rita and family, please accept my sincere sympathy and know he is in a better place. Pat

Ann Hughes Mann
Ann Hughes Mann
4 years ago

I worked in Materiel for years back in the 60’s, and part of that time Bill’s office was next to that of my boss. He was a hard worker, always cheerful, and well-liked. I have been gone from Boeing for decades but still have fond memories of some of the people there. Bill was one of those people. My deepest sympathies.

Brian McCoy
Brian McCoy
4 years ago

Bill was my Dad.

I want to thank all who have and will write in this guest book. I was fortunate to have been able to spend time with Dad in my adult years on a few out of town trips together, working on several of my house repair projects, and to have talked with him on the phone every Sunday morning for over the last decade. I have lived several hundred miles from Dad for 25 years, but I know several of his friends and they are great men to know and of fine character. To his friends I know and all that I did not know I say hello, thank you, and goodbye for now. The Sunday morning calls he and I shared started by happenstance and became habit. Sometimes I would find myself out of town looking for a phone booth on Sunday morning to call and say “hey” to Dad so he didn’t worry if he didn’t hear from me. I enjoyed the habit but Dad bragged a bit too much that his son would call every week so it is fitting that I write about this. The calls were our fun little thing to do. Sundays mornings will not be the same. I suspect grieving on Sunday morning for a moment will be my new habit.

“I will miss my Dad”

Jessica McCoy
Jessica McCoy
4 years ago

Farfar, that’s what I called him, my grandpa.

I always looked forward to visiting him and my grandma, Farmor as I call her. I will never forget the smell of Farfar’s cigars. As a kid that was one of the things I’d first think of when my parents would tell me we were going to visit them. I still think of that. Farfar was a wonderful grandpa and father as I’ve seen the way his 3 sons turned out. Farfar was a very good craftsman, especially with wood. He’s made me so many wood pieces, a granddaughter clock, a desk, a bed frame, and when I was younger he made me a doll house. I love them all. Sometimes I’ll smell them just to smell his cigars which are pretty much permanently part of the wood. When my family and I would go to visit him and my grandma, I’d wake up and walk up the stairs and he’d be sitting at that kitchen table with his side lamp on, smoking a cigar, and reading the newspaper.

I will miss my Farfar.

I’ll also miss leaving after a weekend visit and he’d stand outside, one hand in his pocket, and the other holding his cigar and waving goodbye. I’d always get a little teary eyed when we’d leave. Another thing I’m going to miss is going to Azteca every time my family and I would go to visit. It was a great time to just talk and enjoy each others company. Measuring my height on the kitchen door and marking it with a pencil like everyone else that came over did is something I’m gonna miss also. Just like I’m gonna miss jumping down the stairs. It was like a ritual, something I had to do every time I went over there.

Farfar, he was a great grandfather to have. I looked up to him. I’m sad to see him go, but I’m sure he’s feeling much better now.

Geoff Stamper
Geoff Stamper
4 years ago

Bill was more of a contemporary of my father but I remember him fondly from the summer of 1969 when I worked with him in the Boeing office downtown on 2nd Ave., I think. He included me in lunches and helped me fit in. He was lively, provocative, and one of my favorite Boeing people. Our paths crossed again a few times but I have really good memories of that summer of ’69. I looked up to him and I think the published picture of him was an excellent choice.

Marilyn Ferris and family
Marilyn Ferris and family
4 years ago

To the McCoy family…

We are so sorry to hear of the loss of Bill. He was a great friend to my brother Bill and we were so fortunate to have such wonderful neighbors. The best to you and your family at this time and please let us know when and if you will have a memorial service in honor of his life.

Sincerely,

Marilyn,Wayne,Duke and BarBara motherFerris.

JoAnn McCoy
JoAnn McCoy
4 years ago

Bill my father-in-law, I will miss your patience and your generosity.

I will miss hearing all your stories and marvel that you made it to 80.

I will miss the invigorating exchanges of wit you shared during family visits.

I will miss seeing all your new wooden creations.

I will miss your sense of humor and the way you’d say to the kids in your gruff voice, “go to bed,” when you were the one who was tired. Or when we’d been there only a short time and you’d say, “when are you going back home,” clearly feigning a desire to have us go and we’d play along and say oh, in about a month.

And ah, yes, and I shall miss the smell of your cigars.

My hope is to see you again, Bill. Love, JoAnn

Birgitta & Anders Hammarstrom
Birgitta & Anders Hammarstrom
4 years ago

As long as we live, friends in Sweden,we will remember Bill as the Man with strong integrity and a warm heart.

We have a lot of nice memories since we first met in 1979, as well from Sweden as from Normandy Park and other places in USA.

In our home we daily admire his piece of craftsmanship, the railway engine in wood, and the lovely wooden box for jewelry, among other things we have got from Bill.

We will miss Bill very much!

Rita,we think of you!

Kram from Birgitta och Anders

Bob and Mary Lou Erickson
Bob and Mary Lou Erickson
4 years ago

We will remember Bill for the many games of bridge we shared in our bridge club and the dancing parties we had with mutual friends.

We will remember Bill for his great sense of humor and his ability to organze on the many vacations we shared with him, his brother and our families.

Ever ready with a little sarcasm he was always there to help, an example was when he put up a tarp to keep us dry at Lake Sylvia State Park, he then left for work to get out of the rain.

Bill we still have the beautiful food storage chest you made for our camping trips.

He will be missed by all that knew him as a friend and fun person.

Rita, love to you and your family. You are in our prayers.

Bob and Mary Lou Erickson

Dianne Bradley
Dianne Bradley
4 years ago

Bill McCoy was my first supervisor when I was hired as his secretary at Boeing back in 1979. I remember the first time he asked me to get him some coffee we did that back then. As I was walking down the hall I took a look inside the cup and decided it needed cleaning so I went to the kitchen area, scrubbed the cup, got the coffee and returned to his office. After I had returned to my desk he took a sip of coffee and bellowed in his way – what the heck did you do to my cup, my coffee tastes funny? I told him it was disgusting and that I had cleaned it I was sure I was in trouble at this point. Well, he got that twinkle in his eye and said I guess that’s okay but don’t wash it again and I didn’t! We got along great after that – he was a wonderful boss, very supportive and I feel very fortunate that he helped me get into the Boeing way.

On a personal note, when I found out he built furniture I mentioned to him that I had a number of knickknacks and was wondering if he had ever built a curio cabinet. He said no but he would be willing to give it a try. Well as you can guess it turned out beautiful. He even had me over to his shop to help with the staining of it which made it more personal. After some 25 years, I want you to know that I still have that cabinet and it is just as beautiful as ever. It has even been moved to Florida and back to Seattle and is in perfect shape.

I want to offer my condolences to Rita and his family. I’m sorry I lost touch with you both a few years back but I want you to know that there are people out there that have fond memories of him and I’m glad I had the chance to work with him and know him. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Dianne

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Robert McCoy
Robert McCoy
4 years ago

Since I’ve known Bill longer than anyone alive, except my sister Virginia, I have lots to say. He and I played together constantly by our selves until we went to school.Lots of things come to mind–such as setting our house on fire in Aberdeen–taking off the door knobs to the kitchen where the fire was so our older brother Mason had to break down the door. Since we were together so much we had our own language–and when we did start school the teachers told mom they couldn’t understand us. During high school Bill had a job that required gasing up the cars that were kept in the garage below the capitol building in Olympia. He used to let me help him. The gas pumps were in downtown Olympia about two miles from the capitol. We would each take a car and take different routes to the pumps and see who could get there first. We never got a ticket–but I would call it racing. In our senior year in 1944 we both signed up for the U.S.Army Air Corps. They told us we could be in pilot training, and that sounded exciting. Took our basic training at Amarillo, Texas and from there went to Marfa, Texas for on the line training. It was there we were told the Air Corp had a surplus of pilots and we were sent back to Amarillo to determine our future. There was lots of things offered to us–and the one that sounded the best was training to be a gunner on B-29’s. We went to gunnery school in Los Vegas, Nevada, and picked up our B-29’s and crews about the first part of July, 1945. Bill went to Tampa Bay and I went to El Paso. The war ended in August, so we did not get overseas. Bill’s group stayed together after the war ended and he flew many hours in training. In the spring of 1946 Bill called and said the Air Corp was going to send three B-29 crews to fly as observers to an atomic bomb test in the Pacific and wanted me to join him. They wouldn’t be home till September and I was planning to go to WSC. Bill had many stories to tell about that adventure. He got into WSC after mom wrote the president of the college telling him why Bill didn’t apply earlier. We both joined the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and Bill later became the house manager. Graduating in 1950 in business, Bill went to work for Hormel Meats in Portland. Bill had met Rita in Pullman, and they were married in 1950. I was best man at the wedding, and I signed the marriage certificate where the groom was supposed to sign. Bill went to work for Boeing in 1951, and moved to Seattle. We became quite close with Bill and Rita–went camping–had dancing classes together–went to many parties–played lots of bridge, and had lots of fun. Bill started to build up his work shop and eventually could make anything you saw in a furniture store. We would tell him what we wanted–tell him where we saw it, and he would go to the store–take measurements–and build it. A real craftsman. He has his brand on many things in our house–several tables–a roll top desk– and he was the main guy when we built our deck and built our shop. We also have a beautiful arbor in our yard and a prize bird house with a copper roof. Bill had a big heart–tried to bluff you with his gruff exterior–but I knew him like a brother should, and it was all a sham. A great guy who will be missed by all of us who knew him.

Bob McCoy twin brother

the Steppics
the Steppics
4 years ago

Bill has been our neighbor for many years. He and Richard shared a passion for woodworking. They often swapped stories, showed off their latest piece of equipment, and they seemed to take turns paying visits to the Emergency room. Richard would gash the palm of his hand; Bill would get his finger stitched up. After such a repair job the victim would say to the other “Well, it is your turn next.” I think their number of injuries was about even, except for one incident. Years ago Richard broke his toe, something Bill hadn’t done yet. Then when they were unloading a heavy chunk of wood, Richard dropped it, and broke another toe – except this time it was Bill’s. We were never quite sure whose injury that should be, Bill’s or Richard’s. When Bill got sick, he couldn’t work in his shop anymore, but he still wandered over to see what Rich was doing. I still expect to see him pulling in the driveway and backing his truck into that narrow space with two inches clearance on the driver’s side. Bill missed working in his shop, and we miss him. Our thoughts are with Rita and the rest of the family.

Ingrid, Richard, and Patrick Steppic

Kristina Johnson Bill is my great-uncle
Kristina Johnson Bill is my great-uncle
4 years ago

My first memories of you, Uncle Bill, center around Halloween when our whole family started making it a tradition of invading your home every October. We’d all pile into your house with our fake hair, and fairy wings, and Aunt Rita would feed us not only candy, but usually crackers, cookies, soda, and anything else that was on hand.

More recently, I distinctly remember receiving the wooden “Grand-daughter” clock you sent to me in the mail while I was at school. That meant a lot because the way I remember you best is through your woodwork. You have truly left a legacy in our home from the baby cradle I used to sleep in when I was little to the incredible collection of doll-furniture Sarah & I used to receive for Christmas.

I enjoyed receiving letters from you; you wrote once that I shouldn’t call you “Uncle Bill” because, after all, you were my Great-Uncle, not my Uncle. Since then, I’ve always taken up the entire length of the envelope writing “To: Great Uncle Bill and Great Aunt Rita.” Once, when you learned that I was spending my summer in charge of the BB gun target range at a summer camp, a full paragraph of your letter warned me against the dangers of losing an eye with a BB gun.

I am glad to have known you, Great Uncle Bill. I won’t forget.

Virginia McCoy Britt
Virginia McCoy Britt
4 years ago

Remembrances of William Joseph “Bill” McCoy

I am Bill’s youngest sister. I was 4 ½ years old when Bill and his twin brother, Bob, were born in Aberdeen, Washington. Our Mother used to say that I helped raise the twins. I guess this was because when they were just tiny babies, Mom had 23 children coming into our home for a private kindergarten everyday. If the boys cried or made a noise from the bedroom , I was supposed to get up and see what was needed. As the twins grew a little older, they were full of mischief, and what one couldn’t do to get into trouble, the two of them could accomplish.

We moved from Aberdeen to Olympia, Washington, in 1931. We had two

large Bing Cherry trees in our front yard, and I remember the boys and I would climb those trees and eat cherries until we were stuffed.

When Pearl Harbor happened in December, 1941, the boys were in high school. In 1943, I joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps and left home. After the twins graduated from high school, they joined the Army Air Corps and were stationed in Amarillo, Texas. At the time, I was stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. They came down to see me and we had a great time. I have a photo of us three standing in front of the Alamo in our uniforms.

Later on during World War II, Bill was stationed in Florida and I in Georgia. I went to see him once and he came to see me once. He had fond stories of telling how he had a good time with all of those gals in uniform at my duty station.

When the war was over, Bill, Bob and I went together to Washington State College, using our G.I. Bill of Rights. I was a Sophomore and the boys were freshmen. All three of us met our future spouses there and we all were married over 50 years.

I lived in California for a number of years, so did not see the family often. But after we moved back to the State of Washington, our families and Bill’s family spent many Thanksgiving holidays together.

In the past few years, Bill made some beautiful pieces of furniture for one of my daughters and for me. He loved his shop and doing creative woodworking.

He also loved to eat corned beef and cabbage. He would call and they would come down and we would go out for lunch. I would make a big batch of corned beef and cabbage for him to take home. Or, if I would go up to see him, I would take some for him. I will never again be able to eat corned beef and cabbage without thinking of him.

Also, in the last few years, he was very generous to me. He decided that my 16 year old Toyota Camry wasn’t safe, so he bought me a newer one with very few miles on it. It was even purple, my favorite color. And I love it.

He was a great guy and I miss him!

Virginia McCoy Britt

G&B Hammarström
G&B Hammarström
4 years ago

Bill was married to my cousin Rita

I Gunnar have heard about Bill since I was a young boy. Many years before I met him, Maria and Rita had written about him in their letters to Sweden.When we met in person we were almost 50 – Bodil met him about 10 years later

–it was an amazing meeting.

It was always thrilling to meet Bill.

Bill was “special”. He took us to many different places –to hisworkshop,exiting

“flights “to the Pacific through atomic clouds.

And when he visited Sweden he always met curious people and incidents.

We will never forget when he was sitting on a cliff looking over the sea towards Denmark,smoking his cigar, saying: This is marvelous.

Always flexible – sometimes exited sometimes indifferent. Sometimes tough -sometimes soft, one morning he came with Ola’s kitten in his pocket patting it.

We always have liked him very much

It is hard to part particularly when it is for ever.

It is difficult to see friends pass away, but we Christians have a hope, we have Christ!

And all good memories – nobody can take them away from us.

In our kitchen here in Mellbystrand we have a beautiful cutting-board made in Bill’s workshop that reminds us every morning of a good relative and a wonderful friend.

Thank you Rita that you gave us Bill.

God bless all of you

Gunnar and Bodil Hammarström

Elna, Nils, Per and Ola have asked us to tell you their condolences

Julie Britt
Julie Britt
4 years ago

I would like to share some thoughts about my Uncle Bill. Bill was a great guy. He always gave the appearance of being a rough, gruff character. However, he was a big sweetie with a heart of gold. Once when I was visiting him before his illness, he told me how much he loved his boys and Rita. I also knew he loved my mother, his older sister. They were close and he loved telling stories of how he visited her when they were both in the Army in the 1940s. I think he was proud that she volunteered her services to our country as had he.

When I was living and working in Europe in the 1980s and Bill was over on business with Boeing, he would give me a call just to say hi. It weas nice to hear from family when I was so far away from home.

At one point in my life, after a divorce, Bill saw I had a financial need–or maybe I should say a “furniture” need. He came to my rescue and made me some lovely furniture for my home which I still have. As I look at it now, it reminds me of his caring and generosity as well as his wonderful talent with his woodworking tools.

In 2004 I remarried. Since my father was no longer living, I asked Bill to walk me down the aisle. He accepted with grace. Bill escorted me and we both were laughing as we tottered down the squishy grass “aisle” in my wet, spring backyard. I have some wonderful pictures of Bill from that day.

I aill always remember Uncle Bill with a smile on my face and a tear in my eye. He was a great guy with a big heart who was always there for family. He will be missed.

Julie Britt

DamienTaylor/son to Brian&JoAnn/bro. to Jess,Trav
DamienTaylor/son to Brian&JoAnn/bro. to Jess,Trav
4 years ago

I was not sure of what to say, so, I will write this as if he were reading it.

My Dearest Farfar,

It breaks my heart to have not taken the time to see you over these last several years. It is a regret that will be overshadowed by all the fond memories.

I want to thank you for your kindness, your strength,

your thoughtfulness and most of all your ability to give without wanting anything in return.

I think of you everyday and miss you very much, but, love you even more.

To all the McCoy’s and family I have had the pleasure of meeting, we may not be from the same tree, but, I love you just the same. Best Regards, Damien

Gale M. Johnson
Gale M. Johnson
4 years ago

Uncle Bill was twin brother of my Dad, Bob McCoy. Uncle Bill and Aunt Rita’s three boys were similar ages to our family’s three girls. I am the middle girl and I remember getting together as children over at Uncle Bill and Aunt Rita’s home. It always seemed to be an eventful time and us girls would be wide-eyed at the exuberance and physical energy of the boys.

I will remember Uncle Bill’s sense of humor, his many stories and adventurous tales, the smell of his cigars, and his woodworking shop where he handcrafted many wonderful wooden pieces. Our own girls delighted in various pieces of doll furniture, handcrafted by Uncle Bill, sanded and prepared by my Dad and beautifully painted by my mom; a whole family effort. They are heirlooms that our children will keep and hand down.

Uncle Bill was very willing to lend a helping hand. He used his truck to assist us in moving a piano to our home and spent several days helping my husband, Dave, put new Formica countertops in our kitchen. I know Dave especially enjoyed talking with Bill about business, travels and many various things.

Aunt Rita in her gracious, gentle, hospitable way was a perfect complement for Bill and they made a great couple. I feel privileged to have known them and have them as relatives. Gale McCoy Johnson

Lee McCoy
Lee McCoy
4 years ago

I am married to Bill’s twin brother, Bob, and have known Bill since 1947 when we were all in college at WSU together. It was there that Bill met Rita. After graduation both couples were married within a year of each other. Bill went to work for Hormel in Portland and Bob began his career with Sears in Seattle. In 195l Bill and Rita moved back to Seattle and he started his career with Boeing.

Time marched on and we each had 3 children – they had 3 boys and we had 3 girls. We would frequently take turns driving from one side of Seattle to the other on weekends to spend an evening together, always taking the kids along. Our girls would get exhausted from the rough-and-tumble play with the boys, but always looked forward to it.

In 1963 Bob was transferred to Salem and then we didn’t see as much of each other. However, we would meet with other family members for bird

hunting gettogethers in Pasco,family clam digging in the Westport area, blackberry picking at another sister’s in Olympia and the annual McCoy picnic. The yearly gathering of the clan has been held continuously for about the last 85 years. We have vacationed together in Florida and Hawaii.

Like many others we were beneficiaries of Bill’s woodworking skills. We commissioned him to make quite a number of things for us, including items for our grandchildrens’ Christmas gifts. Bill would construct, Bob would do the finishing and I did the decorative Tole painting. Bill had an electric branding tool to stamp his creations that read “Handcrafted by W.J.Bill McCoy” He was reluctant to use it, but I insisted on it for our items. I’m so glad we did as they are family treasures.

Bill was quite a raconteur and could keep others entertained with his stories enhanced with embellishments

When Bill and Bob would get together they could go on and on reminiscing about their past experiences, each story preceded by “Remember when…

…”

Bill we are sorry to lose you, you were one of a kind.

You will never be forgotten and we will always “Remember

when….”

Lee McCoy Bill’s sister-in-

law

John McCoy
John McCoy
4 years ago

As I have been thinking of Dad these past weeks, an early memory has popped up. I was about 7 years old, and we were new in our Normandy Park home. I asked Dad if he would buy me a go cart, and he said, “no, but we can build one”. Two weeks later I was driving in the grocery store parking lot with a lawn mower engine straining behind me, no brakes, and a lot of laughs. Since our speed and acceleration was inadequate, Dad proceeded to build a fan belt and pulley system for gears and explained earnestly to me how the big pulley on one shaft and the small pulley on the other helped the engine. I didn’t know what he was talking about, but I knew it was important, so I nodded and asked when we could take it out again!

Growing up with my father meant going to sleep in the basement with the workshop saw going in the room next door. It meant watching a sailboat get built in the rec room, and an airplane take shape in the back yard. It meant someone to help me with my cars, even though I didn’t fix them the way he wanted. It meant I didn’t always get what I wanted, but I always got what I needed.

When I bought a house, it meant unlimited hours for remodeling. We added a dining room, deck and spare room to the first house. In our present home, Dad showed up every day for over 4 months as we finished the upstairs bedrooms for the boys….and most important, he showed up at 8 o’clock because he knew I’d never get it done if he didn’t.

I realize now how much we talked. I always let him know what was good or difficult in our lives, and liked to prod him a little on current events. We often did not agree, but he always listened. This is a lonelier place without him.

It is good to know Dad had such a positive and loving impact on so many friends and family. I know he will be remembered, because who could forget him!

I love you, Dad.

Mary McCoy
Mary McCoy
4 years ago

When I married John McCoy, I was blessed with great in-laws. When we asked Bill and Rita if we could “elope” in their back yard, they said yes and went to work on the lawn and the garden beds. Bill only offered one time to send us to Reno if we would let him off the yard-work hook.

It’s a small world… my dad knew the McCoys in Olympia. He was a year behind Bill and his twin brother Bob in school and took history from their father, “Old Man McCoy.” It was fun to see the two men visit at joint family gatherings. I especially remember one day when they took turns telling about their WWII experiences. Bill’s stories drew out of my dad things I hadn’t heard otherwise.

Bill always appreciated a good audience for his stories, and I was a fresh listener who took them at face value even when his family took exception. A common rejoinder in the McCoy household was “Oh, it didn’t happen that way!” Eventually I learned for myself that Bill’s stories got better, if somewhat less accurate, over the years of embellishment.

I followed Bill into the procurement community at The Boeing Co. For years, people would ask me if I were related to “Wild Bill” McCoy and then regale me with stories of him. Most folks liked him even when they disapproved of his supplier management methods.

Many have told about Bill’s vaunted woodworking skills and his generosity with them. Nearly every room in our house has a “Bill-piece,” many of which I finished myself because that part of the job didn’t interest him. He sure taught me how to do it well! One year he surprised me with a lovely, fully finished oak “grandmother” clock for my birthday. It still hangs in the living room where it reminds me of him.

Bill, thank you for raising John to be the man he is, the man I love. And thank you for being such a terrific grandfather to our sons. They and I will miss you.

Kevin McCoy
Kevin McCoy
4 years ago

Farfar, I’m sorry I couldn’t spend more time with you. It always seemed to me that you and Connor got along better than you and I, but I loved you just the same. I remember when You would let me into your workshop to nail pieces of wood together, and when my misshapen creation was finished, you always approved. I remember you cautioning me against youching the chisels, and letting me play with the one sander. I remember going to the car show and looking at all the old cars, as you told me about them. I will always miss you Farfar, and you have changed my life forever.

Connor John McCoy
Connor John McCoy
4 years ago

Other than his surly disposition and his early bedtime, the thing I best remember about Farfar were two things; cigar smoke and sawdust.

Eating peanut butter toast with potato chips on it after going to the dentist, being told I eat too much, knowing that wasn’t true and hearing Farmor tell him so; these are the thing I remember Farfar for.

Only being allowed to use one sander in the workshop, making a sign that claimed it as my own, not being surprised when Kevin, Jess and Trav did the same. This is what I remember Farfar for.

The History Channel always reminds me of him and anything to do with WWII also. Talking to my grandfater about times I was fascinated with but could not possibly know if he was telling me the truth like atom bombs and ice cream runs at 40,000 feet; these are all things I remember Farfar for. Sporty red cars and ever-burning cigars, Dairy Queen on the deck and building anything I needed from scratch with wood; like the set of cubbies he made for my 5th grade class. This is what i remember Farfar for.

I feel slightly ashamed that I was not as close with either Farfar or Farmor until I was in my teens and both of their ailments had begun to change them from what they had been for most of their lives; but I am also glad to have had the opportunity to have spent as much time as I have with them both. Farfar wasn’t the best role model, I can admit that, but he loved me and i can be at ease with Farfar’s death knowing that the last thing I told him was on his birthday when I said that I loved him.

I will always love you Farfar and I know you’ll be there when I drive my red car and catch that faint scent of cigar smoke and sawdust.

Thank you.

Travis McCoy
Travis McCoy
4 years ago

Farfar was my grandpa.

I will miss him very much. I am hoping he has a funeral. Now when I go over to his house it will feel very different. I remember no matter how early I got up from downstairs, he would be at the top of the stairs reading the paper. Every time in the morning he would be in his best mood. Every time I would go over there I would measure myself on the door. I would always go in his shop because I thought it was very neat. Every Christmas or Thanksgiving we would tell a bunch of stories and have laughs.