A Celebration of Life for Carolyn McCoy of Maysville will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 18, 2025 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Purcell, Okla. Carolyn requested no black attire at her celebration. The service will be streamed on the Trinity United Methodist Church Youtube channel: https://youtube.com/@PurcellTrinityUMC/streams. Services are under the direction of the Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Purcell.
Mrs. McCoy passed away Friday, October 10, 2025 surrounded by her family.
She was born October 14, 1937 in Edmond, Okla. Her parents, Maurice and Opal Gentner, raised her in a warm and loving home with her older sister, Sylvia. The girls were exceptionally close throughout their lives.
Carolyn graduated from Ponca City High School in 1955 and earned a BS in Nursing from the University of Oklahoma in 1959. While working at Griffin Memorial Hospital in Norman she met her husband W.T. “Tom” McCoy on a blind date arranged by their respective roommates. She married that handsome Navy pilot on January 28,1961, at The Wesley Center on campus in Norman. They created a union that lasted 58 years.
They had three children, Scott, Bart and Julie. Tom’s career with AT&T led them to many towns in Oklahoma (Norman, Shawnee, Healdton, Oklahoma City, Enid) and eventually to Berkeley Heights, N.J. Carolyn always looked at each move as an adventure and readily made new friends everywhere she went. She actively participated in her church community wherever she lived and had faith in God to watch over the family.
In 1975 they moved to Muskogee, Okla., where the children finished school. She lived there for 14 years before moving to Jenks. She worked part time for OSU Extension teaching nutrition in Muskogee and a doctor’s office in Jenks. After retirement she and Tom travelled extensively around the US and spoiled their grandchildren as much as possible. Carolyn loved to garden - not very successful with vegetables but had great success creating beautiful flowerbeds. They moved to Maysville in 2006 to be near their beloved daughter, Julie, and son-in-law, Mike, as well as their Oklahoma Sooners. They continued to rely on God to direct their lives.
Carolyn had a zest for life that led her to volunteer for most anything that needed to be done including den mother, homeroom mother, brownie leader, Sunday school teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher, meal provider, carpool driver and all-around handywoman. She said she had more fun raising three kids than anyone should. She enjoyed little league sports, last minute science fair projects, school plays, cross country summer vacations, picnics, family dinners, and simply having milk and cookies with the kids after school.
She involved herself in church and community everywhere she lived, even late in life she was president of her garden club, a regular member of a book club, helper for Team Trinity at her church, and part of “The Lunch Club.” She loved people and people loved her. She was a pleasant, positive person who made a difference in the lives of others.
Carolyn subtly mentored young families at church- always lending an encouraging word, supporting their children, offering a prayer, and giving a friendly smile and hug when needed. She lived her life as an example and in all ways wanted to glorify Christ. For Carolyn, life was about faith, family, friends, flowers, and fun.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband and best friend of 58 years, Tom; and parents, Maurice and Opal Gentner.
She is survived by her three children, Scott McCoy of Houston, Texas, Bart McCoy and wife, Susyne, of Colbert, Okla., and Julie Malone and husband, Mike, of Maysville, Okla. She was blessed to have four grandchildren, Zach McCoy and wife, Isabel, of Berkeley, Calif., Ashley Flood and husband, Michael, of Achilles, Okla., Alex McCoy of Berkeley, Calif., and Tenaya McCoy of San Francisco, Calif.; and two great-grandchildren, Emily and Luke Flood. Also surviving are her older sister, Sylvia Waugaman and husband, Jim, of Bixby, Okla., and her four nephews and niece, Rick, Kent, Brad, Jeff and Mary Beth.
Online condolences may be made at www.wilsonlittle.com.