Kay McCoy Passes Away

Kay Graham McCoy, a 1965 graduate of Douglas MacArthur High School, has been reported to have passed away on Friday, March 3, 2017.

Kay was a member of Class Council as a freshman, Future Homemakers of America (FHA) as a sophomore, Student Council Election Assembly as a sophomore, Girls' Athletic Association (GAA) as a sophomore and junior, Spanish Club as junior, Pep Club as a junior, Big Mac Day as a junior, Prom Committee as a junior, Homecoming Committees as a sophomore and senior, Dramatics Club as a junior and senior, and Senior Class Play.

In April 2011, Kay noted her married name was Althoff and she had recently moved back to Decatur.

Last year, Sue Evans passed along news that Kay McCoy was comatose and in a nursing home, since a stroke.

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Formal obituary

LINCOLN, ILLINOIS — Kay Marie (McCoy) Althoff, 69, formerly of Decatur, passed away March 3, 2017 at Symphony of Lincoln, Lincoln, Illinois. Kay was born Sept 11, 1947, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of C. Gordon Graham and June (Larson) Graham. Kay's father died when she was two years old. Her mother later married J. Arnold McCoy who adopted Kay.

Kay was a 1965 graduate of MacArthur High School in Decatur, Illinois. She continued her education at William Jewel and Eastern Illinois University earning a B.S. in Education. She completed her education by receiving her Master of Arts degree from Roosevelt University in Chicago. Kay's love of special needs children led her to career in Special Education. She taught at South Shores School in Decatur and a suburb of Chicago before becoming Principal of Early Childhood Special Education in Alton, Illinois, and retired as Supervisor for Special Education in the Alton school system.

Kay was a lifetime member of First Baptist Church of Decatur and a member of the Illinois Education Association, where she held several offices. Kay's sisters in Alpha Delta Pi Sorority played a very special part in her life, maintaining many lifetime friendships that gave her much love, support and encouragement during her life and illness. Kay spent her retirement years at her home on Lake of the Ozarks until her health declined and she returned to Decatur to be closer to her family.

Kay is survived by her brothers, Gary J McCoy, Niantic, Illinois, and Thomas D McCoy (Ella DeWeese) Kearney, NE, sister-in-law Carol A McCoy, Argenta, Illinois, several nieces, nephews and a special friend, Cathy Elliott whom she mentored in the field of special education.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, David R McCoy.

Kay will be remembered by her family and friends as a fun loving and caring person who never met a stranger.

The family would like to thank the staff of Symphony of Lincoln for their exceptional care and kindness to Kay.

Memorial services will be held at a later date. Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, Decatur, is assisting the family with arrangements.

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Both Kay and Tom McCoy were in our class (1965); Tom lives in Kearney, Nebraska, and is a financial manager at Procter & Gamble.

Susan Evans shared on Facebook that Kay had died, noting, "Our beloved friend and classmate passed away."

Donna Camp Maddox said, "Bless her heart. Always a smile and light heart."

Tracy Devore seconded that with "She always had a smile and had a great sense of humor."

And Dan Cheatham said, "Lots of memories with the McCoy family, going back to the 50s."

Ginny Vaughn remembered, "Kay as the fun loving, sweet girl I knew in high school."

Susan Pilcher recalled, "Kay McCoy always added smiles and laughter everywhere she went. I'm so happy she's free to laugh out loud again."

Sue Matheny notes, "Your sparkling blue eyes will be missed."