Barbara Elizabeth McCoy Obituary

Our precious mother, grandmother, and friend, Barbara Elizabeth McCoy, age 93, of Fircrest, Washington went home to be with Jesus on October 14, 2024.

Barbara was born to Thelma Louise Powel Jameson and William Moot Jameson in Kansas City, Missouri on December 27, 1930.  She married the love of her life Wilbur Kenneth McCoy on January 27, 1947, to whom she was married for 63 years before he went home to be with Jesus in 2010.

After getting married, at the young age of sixteen, Barbara and Ken moved to California. In 1950, Ken joined the Air Force, and for twenty years they were stationed at Air Force bases in South Dakota, Kentucky, Virginia, Mississippi, and even Japan where their son Michael was born. Their final station was at the McChord Air Force Base in Lakewood, Washington. Barbara fell in love with Mount Rainier, and they decided to make Washington their forever home eventually settling in Fircrest, Washington after Ken retired from the military.

At a young age, Barbara came to know Jesus at her Baptist church in Kansas City and always leaned into the promise He would never leave her nor forsake her. As a wife, she loved and served her husband faithfully. As a mother, she loved her children and taught them that loving Jesus was everything. She so enjoyed spending time with her many grandchildren. As a friend, she was generous and had the gift of hospitality. As Barbara partnered with her husband, their home became a place for not just family gatherings but also for Bible studies, outreach ministries through the Tacoma Seafarers' Center, church youth gatherings, prayer meetings, a respite for unwed mothers, and so much more.

Barbara found joy in doing many things, including Quilting, Jewelry making, sewing, playing games with her grandchildren and camping in their RV.  She loved cats all her life with many wonderful memories of the cats she owned from the first she rescued from a man who was about to drown a bag full of kittens to her last kitty PJ.  After she was no longer able to keep kitties, she enjoyed watching the birds at her bird feeders and the bunnies and squirrels who visited her yard.

Most of all, Barbara loved Jesus so much and so desired for others to know him too. She would confirm to you that He is always faithful and will never leave you nor forsake you.

Barbara is survived by her daughter Linda Harmon and son-in-law David Harmon and grandsons David and Jon; her daughter Valerie Cook and son-in-law Steven Cook and grandchildren Steven (Roberta), Jeremy (Shirrell) and Elizabeth Cook; her son Michael McCoy and daughter-in-law Tamera Schara and grandchildren Christy Eatherly (Michael), Donavan McCoy (Doralicia), and Kimberly Schara; her daughter Mechelle Wong and son-in-law Jeffrey and granddaughters Danielle Wong and Rebecca Jones (Corban). Barbara is also survived by sixteen great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Ken, her sister, Wilma Beckett, and her granddaughter, Caryn Harmon Ault.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to Samaritan's Purse (samaritanspurse.org) or World Challenge (worldchallenge.org).

A celebration of a life in Jesus ceremony will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 2:00PM at Praise Covenant Church at 3501 S Orchard St, Tacoma, WA 98466.