Richard Lee McCoy, 80, died Monday, October 22, 2012. He was born April 24, 1932 at the Harlan, Kansas farm home of his parents Walter and Beulah (Saylor) McCoy.
He attended Portis Grade School and graduated from Portis High School in 1951. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in the fall of 1951, serving until 1953, at which time he returned to farm in the Portis community. Richard married Phyllis Jacobson on February 27, 195 at Everest, they were the parents of four children, Rox Anne, David, Jean and Brad. He also lived and worked in Effingham and Downs until moving to the Gaylord community in 1962, later retiring in Smith Center. He was a farmer and owner/operator of a trucking company for many years and operated a custom harvesting business traveling through Oklahoma, Kansas and South Dakota. In later years he operated a conservation/construction business. Richard was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Athol and also enjoyed attending Grace Brethren Church, Portis and Cedar Christian Church during his lifetime. Richard married Louan (Herndon) Geist on August 24, 1984 in Smith Center. Richard and Louan enjoyed going to dances and playing lots of cards with friends, in 2009 they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Richard always had a nickname for everyone he met, never forgetting the names he gave to each. He enjoyed attending the grandkids' activities, attending car races and watching the old western movies, the television shows Bonanza, Gunsmoke and Andy Griffith.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by daughter Rox Anne McCoy.
He is survived by his wife Louan of Smith Center, KS; daughter Jean (Ray) Montgomery of Smith Center, KS; 2 sons, David (Carla) McCoy of Colby, KS and Brad (Stacey) McCoy of Harlan, KS; 2 stepdaughters, Alice (Tom) Rice and Agnes (Alan) Grauerholz; stepson, Doug (Deb) Geist; sister, Lois Gentzler of Fairbury, NE; brother and Terry (Cheril) McCoy of Portis, KS; 11 grandchildren, 5 step grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at 11:00AM Wednesday November 7, 2012 at the Simmons-Rentschler Mortuary with Pastor Lance McDowell officiating.
Inurnment will be in the Fairview Cemetery, rural Portis, KS.
The family has requested memorial contributions be made to Smith County Memorial Hospital and can be sent in care of the mortuary.