Robert E. McCoy


Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino County, CA
Published in the "Big Bear Grizzly"
File uploaded 6 Aug 2005

This file is part of the California Tombstone Project
http://www.rootsweb.com/~cemetery/california/californ.html

Robert E. McCoy

75, sailed away to another world and was over the horizon on April 26, 2005. 
A painless, short, beautiful final journey.

He was born on September 8, 1929, in Leasberg, Missouri, the youngest of a large 
family that included several girls. One of his fondest memories of that time was 
being tickled and spoiled by his doting sisters.

During these early (depression era) years, he was also busy honing his hunting 
skills on rabbits, oppossums, squirrels and the like. His "game" was promptly 
turned into stews and other delights for the mouths that needed to be fed. Bob 
like to say that he was "drug" up as opposed to being reared.

Bob's mother and father broke apart and Bob's mother took him to Chicago, where 
he attended Hyde Park High School. He worked at various jobs from delivery boy to 
a framer at an art studio. With WWII in full swing, Bob and his high school chums 
were going to enlist. Bob's parents signed to get him in - he was only 16 - and he 
lied, probably for the only time in his life to get the recruiter to think he was 
older in age by one month. He served our country and the Marines proudly. Bob's 
memories of that time carried over to his membership and many friends in the American 
Legion.

After his service, Bob came to California to attend UCLA. He apologizes for that; 
for in those days he was a Democrat. Law school at Southwestern School of Law followed. 
Bob was hired by the firm of Spray, Gould and Bowers in Los Angeles where he spent his 
entire career in the field of Civil Law as a courtroom attorney. During his working 
life, Bob continued to be a hunter and even had a membership in a pheasant hunting club.

Bob loved the ocean and sailing and his family of four sons, Steven, Keith, Wesly and 
Jeffrey - and most aspects of his life. No to minimize his difficulties at work and at 
home, on average most times were pluses.

He was forced into retirement by a severe stroke in 1988. His family was told that it 
was all but certain that he would soon have another, more devastating stroke. Slowly 
recovering, Bob moved to Big Bear Lake. He had enjoyed the area in his earlier years, 
so it seemed a natural choice. Two block from the American Legion, Bob did a lot of 
walking back and forth to the Post, the Post Office and other places.

Then, one fine day in 1997, Bob spotted Janet, who was sitting with her aunt at the 
far end of the bar at the Legion Hall. Bob then went about meeting Janet's father and 
interviewing him about the "bride-to-be." Willard was such a dear - he probably never 
knew that Bob was scrutinizing Janet of Bob's "jury of one." Bob and Janet had a lot 
in common, and Bob emphasized these things during their courtship. They were married 
on a lake cruise boat on October 10, 1998 with friends and family on board. A reception 
at Big Bear Post 584 followed.

Bob and Janet had mostly good times. Bob was a great support during the final days of 
her father and both experienced the losses of his dear sister-in-law and brother, Earl, 
most recently.

Janet never knew about the desert. When she queried her father, he said, "Your mother 
and I didn't particularly like the desert." So here she is, among her best of friends 
at Desert Hot Springs.

A family member and retired Navy Priest/Chaplin said, "What would Bob have done without 
Janet?" Janet says, "What would she have done without Bob?"

Janet will host a BBQ on July 30 at the American Legion Post 584 at 3 p.m. with her family 
and favorite musician Bob Schurr in loving memory of Bob McCoy and her father Willard Jenks.