Cleo Robert McCoy, age 90, of Washington, Iowa, formerly of Crawfordsville, died Saturday, April 4, 2015 at Halcyon House in Washington following a brief illness.
Mass of the Resurrection will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 9, 2015 at the St. James Catholic Church with Father Bernie Weir officiating. Calling hours will begin noon Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Wednesday evening. Interment with military honors will take place at Crawfordsville Cemetery at a later date. Memorials have been established for Hospice of Washington County or St. James Catholic Church. Online condolences may be sent for Cleo's family through the web at
www.jonesfh.com
Cleo Robert McCoy was born January 7, 1925 in Crawfordsville, Iowa, the son of Claude T. and Cora (Ruebsum) McCoy. He graduated from Crawfordsville High School in 1943. Cleo was united in marriage to Betty Lowe on September 30, 1943.
Cleo was a simple farmer. He loved the sight of new baby lambs running in an open field, the smell of fresh mowed hay and the feeling of dirt on his hands. He loved life and always felt it was a privilege to be a farmer and his own boss. He married his high school sweetheart and after twelve years of marriage they had Irish twins, Robyn and Lorna. Five years later Craig came along. Family was an important part of Cleo's life. He loved attending the Iowa State Fair with his family, he never missed one of his grandson's school activities, and he thought that God and church were the backbone to a good family.
Cleo was a lifelong resident of Washington County where he farmed all of his life west of Crawfordsville. He was a veteran of World War II where he served overseas for two years with the 3600 Quartermaster Trucking Company. He was an active member of the Crawfordsville American Legion Schantz-Mitchell Post for seventy years. Cleo was a 90-year member of St. James Catholic Church and past president of the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of Farm Bureau, was a Master Swine Producer and a Master Lamb Producer. Cleo enjoyed wintering in Arizona for 16 years.
He is survived by his daughter, Robyn Lamb and husband Bob of Mt. Carroll, Illinois; daughter, Lorna Wind and husband Tim of Coralville, Iowa; son, Craig "Buzz" McCoy and wife Karen of Crawfordsville, Iowa; three grandsons: Matt Lamb of Mt. Morris, Illinois; Marty Lamb of North Liberty, Iowa; and Air Force Captain Jordan Wind of Washington D.C.; brother-in-law, Lester Kempf of Iowa City, Iowa; brother-in-law, Robert Lowe of Brea, California; and sister-in-law, Marie Lowe of Wayland, Iowa.
Cleo was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Betty in 2012; and his sister, Mary Frances Kempf in 2011.