Obituary of Bobby Neal McCoy

On Saturday, December 5, 2020, Bobby Neal McCoy (better known as Bob McCoy) died peacefully after a long illness.  

 

Bob was born on March 31, 1940, in Walla Walla, Washington, to John Leon and Dorothy Amelia (Ulbricht) McCoy, the grandson of Walla Walla wheat farmers, John David and Rose (Olmstead) McCoy and Carl and Helena (Mehrer) Ulbricht who emigrated from Romania.  He was also the great grandson of pioneers Thomas and Margaret (Kendall) McCoy, who came to the Northwest Territory via the Oregon Trail in the 1850s.  Bob especially enjoyed doing research on his McCoy roots, including great uncle Joseph, who has been designated as the "Real McCoy."

 

As a student at Walla Walla High School, Class of 1958, Bob's most treasured memory was his time as the student conductor of the orchestra, being first chair trumpet, and marching in the band, performing during football games and parade competitions.  The music of John Philip Sousa was a favorite of his.

 

Bob began his working career doing field surveys for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  After graduation from Central Washington State College (now University) with a degree in psychology in 1968, he worked as a city planner in Walla Walla, as a probation officer in Yakima County, as director of Mental Health Services in Stevens County, and various positions with the State of Washington Department of Social and Health Services in Olympia, including a grants manager, performance audit examiner, medical program specialist and field consultant for Vital Records.  He retired in 1990.

 

In 1978, Bob also began his own business as the local "Watkins Man," providing direct sales services, mail order fulfillment, and point of purchase displays at various gift shows at the Tacoma Dome and Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup.  He retired from sales in 2018. 

 

Bob was first married to Bonnie Anderson in 1966 and later to Mary Amandes in 1986.  He and Mary made their home in Tumwater for 18 years.  Beginning in 2003, they designed and built their dream home, which they named "Lambacres,” in rural Thurston County, employing building methods and design features they had discovered while doing research at home shows.  While the home was under construction, it was featured in the Olympian newspaper in July 2004 for its attention to environmental factors. With five acres, Bob was able to have a large garden (as he had had when the family lived in Yakima), as well as fruit trees and bushes, particularly blueberries. He relaxed by researching military history and genealogy but his greatest enjoyment was time spent with family.

 

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Margaret Kunz; and brother, Jack McCoy.  He is survived by his wife, Mary Amandes; daughter, Shaunna, and her husband, Ramzi Karlous; son, Korey, and his wife, Tara McCoy; and daughter, Lindsay McCoy.  From the next generation, he is survived by grandchildren, Jasmin and Jordan Karlous; Kitrick, Paityn, Parker and Taylor McCoy; and great-grandson, Kairo Karlous. He is also survived by his former wife, Bonnie Anderson Clapper; brother, Donald, and his wife, Mary McCoy; and several nieces and nephews.

 

The family gathered together for a gravesite service on December 11, 2020, at Mills and Mills Memorial Park where Bob was laid to rest.  The family plans a memorial in the future.

 

 

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