Carol Jean McCoy (nee Strand), long time resident of Kirkwood, MO, passed away peacefully on December 1st, 2020 at the age of 88.

She was born on November 10th, 1932, in St. Cloud MN., to Otto Rudolph (Rudy) and Eleanor May Strand (nee Gauer).

Carol was married to Robert (Bob) Burchard McCoy, of Huntington, IN. Carol and Bob had four sons, Richard (Rick) [Judy], Robert (Rob), James (Jim) [Beth] and Jeffrey (Jeff) [Diane] McCoy.

Carol was a wonderful wife and mother. She devoted her life to looking after the needs of others. She loved sewing for her children and grandchildren, and hosting family events. She was an exceptional cook and loved baking cookies for her family and friends to celebrate holidays or just to make someone feel better. There is not another person in the world that could make chocolate chip cookies like Carol did, PERIOD.

Carol was also a skillful “garage sale warrior”. She and her longtime friend Mary Zell would hit the streets early Saturday morning in search of treasures for the people she loved. She and Bob made it their mission to recognize holidays and life events for family and friends with timely cards and phone calls to sing happy birthday. Carol loved to sing and would sometimes just whistle or hum to let you know she was there. She always reached out to others that were experiencing hardship or hurt in their lives to let them know that she was thinking of them and praying for them. She knew what pain was and she felt deeply for others going through challenging times.

In addition to the extremely hard work of raising her four boys with Bob, she also held several jobs in her community and managed to go back to college and earn her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Butler University later in life. She was also a very active member of the First Congregational Church in Webster Groves for many years.

Carol travelled extensively with family and friends. Family camping trips took them to nearly every state of the Union, even parts of Canada. Bob and Carol’s travels also took them to Alaska, Asia, Europe, Mexico, and South America. She was always up for an adventure!

Carol won’t be able to host her annual holiday cookie baking event with her grandchildren and great grandchildren this year, since she has been reunited with her loved ones in heaven that preceded her in death – her parents, Otto (Rudy) and Eleanor Strand; brother, Richard (Dick) Strand; sister Lois and [Duane] Lunemann; son, Robert (Rob) McCoy; and great granddaughter, Sophia McCoy.

Carol is survived by her husband – Bob; three sons – Rick, Jim, Jeff and their wives; eight grandchildren -Barb Steen, Beth Beech, Bill McCoy, Matt [Kaylie] McCoy, Alison McCoy, Abigail McCoy, Greg [Jillian] McCoy, and Amanda McCoy.

Carol also leaves behind seven great grandchildren – Jon, Brad, and Maddie Steen; Tinlee and Oaklee McCoy; Charleston and Caroline McCoy; sister – Patricia (Pat) [Don] Kalscheuer; brother – Gary Strand, and sister-in-law – Gayle Strand along with many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Carol will be missed by all who loved her for her strength, supportiveness, encouragement, honesty, kindness, attention to detail, spunky nature, and her genuine loving care for friends and family. She truly had a heart of gold.

The family plans to hold a Memorial Service at a later date. Donations in Carol’s name can be sent to:

The Back Stoppers, PO Box 795168, St. Louis, MO 63179 https://backstoppers.org/gnhdonate/

First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, 10 W. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, MO 63119

https://firstchurchwg.org/donate/