Shirley A. McCoy

Shirley Ann McCoy was the daughter of James and Purla McDaniel and was born on July 8, 1935 in Tulsa Oklahoma at Morningside (now Hillcrest) Hospital. Shirley had two sisters, Emma Lee "Aunt Siddy" and Willa Mae "Aunt Billie". She also had two brothers, James "Uncle Buddy" and Tommy McDaniel. They are now deceased. Shirley attended Catholic School at Holy Family Cathedral in downtown Tulsa. She went on to Roosevelt and then Will Rogers High School. At age seventeen, she married Fredrick Reese "Bill" McCoy at the Creek County Court House on January 5, 1953. Bill joined the Navy and they moved to San Diego California where they began a family of their own. First a son, Jim and then, back in Oklahoma, three daughters, Sherry, Carol, and Judy. Judy preceded her parents in death in 2009. The remaining three children continue to live in Oklahoma. Her husband, Bill, began a long career with the United States Postal Service and after their children were school-aged, Shirley began to work part-time at the school cafeteria. Bill was pleasantly surprised at the extra income for his family and this led to part-time work at the Tulsa County Fairgrounds working in concessions with multitudes of popcorn made and cotton candy served. Her part-time work ethic was so noticed that Shirley was offered a full-time position in accounting at the Fairgrounds that turned into a 35-year career. During this time of her life, she met the criteria to be a Notary Public and a trusted member of her community. Shirley enjoyed many different activities throughout the years. When her children were growing up, she liked to watch them play sports, keeping up her home, sewing, gardening, going on family vacations, visiting friends and family in Texas, Girl Scouts, cheerleading events, and all the while raising a plethora of poodle puppies with her two adult poodles, Pepi and Genie (black and silver miniature AKC poodles). Where did she find the time? Later in her life, she enjoyed going on bus tours in this area of the country, family gatherings, garage sales, and for a short time, bingo and the racetrack. She was big fan of "Wheel of Fortune" and played against anyone who showed up while it was on. She was the first to find it funny when she would initially guess the wrong answer to the puzzle. Shirley had a great sense of humor. She made us laugh and take part in silly games she had taken from a newspaper article. By the by, she could be seen reading the newspaper front to back every morning in her living room with the front door open to the sunlight. This is also where she watched the birds while feeding them birdseed and giving them human qualities about what they were thinking and saying to the other birds. Bill retired from the Post Office and Shirley followed him some years later. She retired to enjoy her family with their children and eight grandchildren (and watch her husband watch sports on television). Eventually, their family grew to 35, at the last Christmas holiday head count, always held at the folks' house. On October 6, 2020, Shirley became a great, great, grandmother with the birth of twin boys. Bill lost his battle with cancer in 2013. Shirley lived alone for a few years but the throes of dementia symptoms took its toll on her health and she lost her fight for life on October 7, 2020. Dementia is a cruel disease and we have missed her already for a long time. She loved us all over many years and we love her. Viewing will be 9AM-8PM, Sunday, October 11, 2020 at Moore's Southlawn, 9350 E. 51st, Tulsa, OK. Graveside service will be 2:00 P.M., Monday, October 12, 2020 at Rose Hill Cemetery, Tulsa, OK. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233

Shirley A. McCoy

July 8, 1935 - October 7, 2020