Pauline J. McCoy

Pauline J. McCoy of Kansas City, Missouri, formerly of Creston, died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, at John Knox Village Care Center in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery in Creston at a later date.

Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church, Creston; Gibson Memorial Library and the Scholarship fund at Northwestern Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri. Condolences may be given at www.powersfh.com.

“Polly” was born near Carbon in Adams County to Vern Wilmarth and Dorothy Neill. She graduated salutatorian in 1955 from Corning High School. Fun stories between much loved cousins and siblings got Polly laughing till her sides ached, and are still shared among family.

On New Year’s Eve 1955, she met Robert “Bob” McCoy of Clarinda. On July 1, 1956, they were married at United Methodist Church in Corning. Polly joined Bob at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and after the Army, settled in Creston to raise children, first on Myrtle Street, then their long-time home in Cromwell.

After her children were raised, Polly began the pursuit of her life-long dream of becoming a teacher. She graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a BS in education and a master’s degree in reading and special education/LD. Polly spent years teaching area children.

As a couple, Bob and Polly worked on their homes, loved to square dance and were lifelong members of the First United Methodist Church in Creston. They loved traveling and spending time visiting their children and grandchildren. Polly was a bookkeeper, managing their self-owned business, McCoy Flooring. She was accomplished at sewing, painting, crafts, gardening, canning and bee-keeping.

Polly taught love of every sort of animal from dogs and birds, to ponies, sheep and butterflies. She woke her children at midnight to look at the wonder of the Milky Way in the winter, when stars and asteroids are brightest.

Polly was an active member of her church and local groups supporting the community. Her favorite hobby was noting family birthdays and special events with a card and clippings from the local paper. Every Friday night, Polly and Bob loved traveling to see their grandsons play high school football in Lee’s Summit.

In July 2022, Polly moved to assisted living at John Knox Village, where she met and made many friends who welcomed and supported her during this graceful transition. Her family was so grateful to have her near so they could spend time and oversee her care. Her daughter, Melanie, was lovingly dedicated, seeing Polly most days.

Pauline is survived by her son, Christopher McCoy of Austin, Texas; daughter, Melanie (John Stensland) of Kansas City, Missouri; grandsons: Jarod (Karlea) Abel of Geneva, Illinois, and Jordan Abel (Corrina) of Kingsville, Missouri; great-granddaughters, Linnea and Autumn Abel of Geneva; sisters-in-law: Carolyn of South Dakota, Shirley of Colorado and Donna of California; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Robert McCoy; two brothers: Neil and Harold Wilmarth and one sister, Darlene Rice.