Family members regret the passing (April 10th) of Patricia Ann McCoy (89), longtime resident of Stirling City (1996-2015) and since then of Chico. Patricia is survived by her three children, Michael B. McCoy (Costa Rica), Paula D. Kaplan (Chico) and Kerry P. McCoy (Alameda), and six grandchildren, Patricia Lee, Jeffrey B., Aileen D. and Lucke B. McCoy (all Costa Rican residents), as well as, Jennifer and Ryan Kaplan of Chico, and four great-grandchildren, Juniper and River Bedford (daughter and son of Jennifer, Chico) and Liam Monge (son of Patricia Lee) and Megan Pizarro (daughter of Aileen). Immediate family members also include: Ken Kaplan (son-in-law, Chico), Phil Bedford (husband of grand-daughter Jennifer, Chico) and Altagracia McCoy (daughter-in-law, Alameda).
Patricia succumbed to failing health even though she courageously fought back and beat four different types of cancer over 16 years. Patricia was born 2 weeks after the stock market crash of 1929 in Dallas, Texas to Carra House and Chauncey Colton. She grew up in the St. Louis area graduating Webster Groves high school in 1948 where she excelled and became a talented water color artist.
She became an avid horse rider during her youth. She started her career as a secretary for LaClede Gas and soon married J. Bland McCoy. She raised 3 children in High Ridge and by the early 60’s returned to secretarial work for several companies including Monsanto as technical secretary (where her bosses developed the photocopier), and administrative assistant to the Dean, School of Medicine, St. Louis University.
Patricia attended university writing classes, and had a talent for poetry. She divorced in 1967 and moved to Pacifica, Ca. the next year where she learned of and entered the Baha’i Faith.
Here she continued secretarial/administrative work for several firms such as Hubinger Co. (office manager), and the large corporation, AMFAC, as administrative assistant and finally director of employee relations for the nursery division at its western headquarters. She resigned this important position and tried her hand as a carpet and furniture salesperson at Sears (a position her father held at Sears in St. Louis). She excelled and thoroughly enjoyed the people contact in this new experience.
However, in 1981 Patricia decided to enter the world of business ownership and formed an office support company (Communisystems, 15 years) involving word-processing/answering service/book-keeping/tape transcription/notary/copying and collating/faxing in Half Moon Bay. This business was highly successful because of her friendliness, openness, attention to detail and willingness to satisfy her varied clientele of physicians, psychologists, attorneys, salespeople and small businesses. Patricia was very proud of her own business which allowed her to buy a beautiful home and to care for her aging mother.
In 1996 she retired and moved to a beautiful log cabin in the lush pine forest of Stirling City in order to be closer to family. She continued medical tape transcriptions for 3 years but ultimately passed her time to two of her greatest passions: gardening and reading. She also became active in the Historical Society of Stirling City.
Four years ago she came to live in central Chico to be even closer to family as the mountain winters became too much to handle. In her final years she worked on writing an historical novel (including some personal experiences) which may soon reach publication. Patricia’s first love was the northern California Pacific coast, but also came to enjoy the great pine forests of Paradise/Stirling City.
She was an avid nature-lover and enjoyed feeding the many species of birds and mammals that visited her homes. She loved dogs, especially German shepherds and owned several. She was also an avid cook and used many Texas recipes her mother taught her.
She also loved to go shopping. Patricia was strongly independent and responsible with a pioneering, and courageous spirit; qualities that were admired by many and helped shape the lives of her children and others. She will be truly missed by all who knew her.
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