McCoy Family: In Memoriam

Dad was always taking pictures and making people smile, so this seemed appropriate.

My dad, Phil McCoy, had a few different nicknames, but one that really stuck was Flipper. Other than being a play on Philip, it was a reminder of a trip to Lake Wappapello he took with Matt, me and Randy Roehrs and his boys. We borrowed Grandpa McCoy’s boat and went out to the lake and rented a cabin in the early spring. It was still pretty cold out, especially on the water, but it was nice to be outside with friends.

After a morning of fishing, it was time to go in for lunch. Randy's boat started right up, but my dad was struggling in the back of our boat to get the motor going. He must have pulled about a dozen time when he finally pulled really hard and instead of the motor starting, the seat bracket broke and my dad fell into the icy water. He splashed around like he was drowning until Randy yelled, "Phil, stand up!" The water was less than 5 feet deep. By the time we all got home, calls were coming in for Flipper McCoy. It stuck.

That story reminds me a lot of all the things that I and everyone that knew dad have to be thankful for. I’m thankful for how much he loved his family. Matt and I never wanted for fun activities in the summer or on weekends growing up. Swimming at the Elks, camping trips or trips down to the KC Hall were normal.

I’m thankful for the help he gave Matt and me joining a long line of Eagle Scouts in our family – and for all the summer camps and pinewood derbies that got us there.

I’m thankful that he coached soccer and worked the chains during football games so he could be closer to us and get great pictures.

I’m thankful that Dad kept the Dollar Store and the Post Office in business with the endless care packages to Donnie, me and anyone we worked with when we were deployed overseas – and that once that ended, he started sending them to his granddaughters that weren’t in his immediate vicinity.

I’m thankful that Dad loved family so much, and that his definition of family spread out to almost anyone whom he worked with, lived near or talked to in Shop and Save. Ask any of his friends, and they will tell you he’d do almost anything for them with practically no notice.

I’m thankful for my dad’s faith, because it gave him and us confidence that we will all be okay and that better things are coming.

I’m thankful for the 20+ years he had after beating cancer. That time let him marry Fran - who is a wonderful woman. She absolutely brought out the best in him at every turn and made him a very happy man.

That time let him see Matt, Donnie and me grow up, marry, become successful and give him beautiful granddaughters. It let him take the girls fishing, color with them and fill the backyard with toys and the girls with wonderful memories.

I’m thankful for the dad, grandpa and man that he was – and the friend that he will always be.

Thank you, Pop. We love you.

- My dad passed away Saturday, April 28th, 2012 at 59 years old. The picture and words above are from my speaking at his funeral mass.