Raymond E. McCoid

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MASON CITY: Raymond E. McCoid, 91, of Mason City, died Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, December 29, 2008, at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, with Rev. Jim Magelssen officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM 4:00 PM on Sunday, December 28, 2008, with a Masonic Service at 3:00 PM at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church or KCMR.\r\n
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Ray was born in Galatia, KS on December 15, 1917, the son of Moses A. Blanche (Lund) McCoid. He graduated from Manly High School in 1937. Ray married Eleanor Bitker on October 26, 1940. He worked at the Holsum Bakery in Mason City until enlisting in the U.S. Army on October 5, 1943, and proudly served as SSgt. in a task force APO in the (south) Pacific Theatre during WWII. He was honorably discharged in January 1946 and began a U.S. Postal Service career of over 30 years before a medical retirement in 1974.\r\n
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Ray was a member of the VFW Post and National Association of Letter Carriers for over 50 years. He was a member of Benevolence Masonic Lodge in Mason City for over 50 years also, most as a 32nd degree.\r\n
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Ray and his wife have been members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City for more than 40 years. Ray was active with the local DeMolay chapter and Boy Scouts of America. He also loved animals and was especially gifted with horses and dogs.\r\n
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Ray is survived by his wife of 68 years, Eleanor; his son James McCoid and wife Sue of Northglenn, CO. He is survived by five grandchildren: Rebecca, Matthew, Mark and his wife Lori of Florida, Jim and his wife Brandy of Crystal Lake, IL and Kathryn and her husband Peter Nafzger of Hugo, MN. He is also survived by a Brother Art in CA and a sister Marie in Manly, IA, as well as eight great grandchildren, and a multitude of loving nieces and nephews. \r\n
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He was preceded in death by his father, mother, brother DEarl and son Gerald.