Bonnie E. McCoy

Bonnie E. McCoy, 80, of Mason City, IA, died Saturday, May 14, 2016, at her home. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, May 27, 2016, at the First Presbyterian Church, 100 S. Pierce Street, with Rev. Paul Collier officiating. There will be a celebration of life gathering from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM on Friday at the MacNider Art Museum, 303 2nd St S.E. – Mason City. Memorials may be directed to the MacNider Art Museum Foundation or the First Presbyterian Church.

Bonnie’s life began on September 16, 1935 in Somerville New Jersey. Somerville at that time had a population of 12,000 people. It is located in the central part of the state about halfway between New York City and Philadelphia. She was the second of three daughters. Her mother, a secretary before her marriage, was a dedicated homemaker. Besides the traditional responsibilities for that period, she made all of her children’s clothes, canned enough fruits and vegetables from the garden to carry the family through the winter and spring and was the family bookkeeper. Her dad was an executive with the public utility; he was always heavily involved in community work. Her family belonged to the Methodist Church where she sang in the choirs from the age of five.

The most memorable tradition in her family was the annual summer vacation in South Hero, Vermont. Even during World War II when gas was rationed, her dad saved enough stamps to allow them to make that 700 mile round-trip each July. One of the great satisfactions of her married life is that the family has been able to continue that tradition.

She graduated from Summerville High School in 1953 and then attended Douglass College, the woman's college at Rutgers University where she majored in Foods and Nutrition and graduated in 1957. Following the advice of a favorite faculty member, she applied for a position in the Dietetic Internship/Masters Degree program at the University of Iowa. It was there that she met her husband, Robert McCoy.

They were married on September 13, 1958 in Somerville and honeymooned in San Jose, California where Bob was fulfilling the three-month trauma component of his orthopedic residency program. While there Bonnie was hired by O'Connor Hospital as an undercover agent in the Dietary Department. She walked through orchards of walnut trees to get from their apartment to her job each morning.

January of 1959 found them back in Iowa City where she continued to work on her Masters Degree while teaching as a graduate assistant in the Home Economics Department at the University. She finished her thesis “The Total Iron Content of the Intact Placenta” and graduated in February 1960. One month later their first son, Jamie was born.
In July of 1960 the family moved to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Their second son, Douglas, was born there in May of 1961.

Bob completed his military obligation in July 1962 and they moved to Mason City. The boys were one and two years of age. Because of the demands of Bob's practice, Bonnie assumed the role of the “constant presence” for the children. She and the boys had a lot of fun together right in our own backyard where she made countless butterfly nets out of wire coat hangers and discarded sheer curtains. They never tired of that chase or fishing in Willow Creek. R. Andrew joined his brothers in April of 1965. Watching over these three wonderful boys as they grew to adulthood has been the greatest joy in her life.

Shortly after moving to Mason City the family joined the First Presbyterian Church where Bonnie sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and served as both Deacon an Elder. In 1990 she chaired the Long Range Planning Committee and most recently chaired the first Alternative Christmas Market event.

Throughout the years that the boys were in school, she supported them by being a den mother, a PTA officer, chauffeur for them and their brass instruments, cheering section for countless little league games and track meets, and piano accompanist for all three during their annual solo contests.

Bonnie’s first foray beyond home and church work began when Andy entered kindergarten. She accepted a part-time teaching position in the Biology Department at North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) and taught there for 17 years.

In the early 70’s Bonnie began a ten year association with the United Way organization, serving several years as Division Chair and as a member of both the Board and Budget Committee. It was a wonderful way to learn about the human services in her new hometown.
From 1972 until 1984 she was a Trustee of the Mason City Public Library, serving as President for two of those years. During her first term, the board succeeded in opening the stacks to all age groups, a real breakthrough.

The MacNider Museum opened 1966, and Bonnie spent a great deal of volunteer time there from the beginning. Her two most satisfying responsibilities, right up until her illness, were as a docent for tour groups and as a member of the Board of Directors. During the three years that she served as President, two major additions to the building were completed and she helped organize a celebration of the Museum's 25th anniversary.

In 1984 Bonnie was invited to sit on the Friends’ of Iowa Public Television Board. This is the fund-raising arm of the station. It was a fascinating seven year experience, a clinic in good management with the bonus of working beside interesting people from all over the state. She served as President of the Board in 1990. One year later she was appointed by Governor Branstad to the Iowa Public Television Board. The mission of IPT is to bring all the richness of Iowa’s heritage to every citizen of this rural State. By its focus on public service, it adds immeasurably to all Iowan’s quality of life.

Another special opportunity for Bonnie was her association with the Iowa Humanities Board from 1985 – 1988. She read hundreds of applications for federal grants and helped make decisions regarding funding for many interesting projects around the state.

Each spring the Kinney-Lindstrom Foundation underwrites the cost of plantings for about 40 community flower beds. She volunteered for ten years to plant and care for a small garden closest to her neighborhood.

For the last 53 years the McCoy family has lived in the Blythe house, a Prairie School design, ca. 1913, in Rock Glen by Walter Burley Griffin. Visitors from all over the U.S. and many foreign countries have appeared in their front yard with cameras and the hope of being invited in for a tour. Bonnie truly enjoyed the responsibility of being good stewards of this historic property.

The difference between living in a small suburb of New York City and living in Mason City, which is the largest population center for 90 miles in any direction, is the difference between counting on a big city to provide for all of one's informational, cultural and recreational needs as opposed to making it happen oneself. Because of the volunteer initiative and follow-up support, Mason City provides a remarkable variety of activities. Having the opportunity to be part of making these things happen has made Bonnie’s Iowa time very rewarding.
Bonnie is survived by her husband Robert, sons Jamie (and wife Diane), Doug (and wife Susan), R. Andrew (and wife Julie), sisters Carol (and husband Roy) Higgins, Anita (and Husband James) Collins, and 9 grandchildren.