“Honey” McCoy

December 9, 1917 – November 13, 2012

Sara Alcenia “Honey” McCoy, age 94, of Iowa Park, Texas, formerly of Gatesville Texas, passed away Tuesday, November 13, 2012.

Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 17, 2012, at the First United Methodist Church of Gatesville, Texas. A private family interment followed later at Restland Cemetery.

Honey was born on December 9, 1917, in Jonesboro, TX, to the late James Dennis and Mildred Burns Watson Walsh. She attended Jonesboro schools for 1st-11th grade, and then attended 12th grade at Gatesville High and graduated in 1935. During Honey’s high school years she loved to play basketball and was a member of the 1934-1935 runner-up state women’s basketball championship team during her senior year. After graduating high school, she completed a course in dress making and began sewing for people locally, which was the beginning of a long and glorious career sewing for others. In October 1939, she moved to Austin, TX, and worked as a seamstress in a dress shop. She met Frank McCoy, the love of her life, and they were married on March 30, 1940. This union was the beginning of their own caring and loving family, which has continued to grow over the years. Eventually, they moved back to Gatesville where Frank began working at the Camp Hood Fire Department and, of course, Honey raised her children and continued with her sewing. Honey loved her three children dearly and they were always placed first in her life, as were her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren in her later years. She also had a dedication to the church and was involved in the growth and changes over the years, serving as youth group leader and the first female on the board of directors for the First United Methodist Church of Gatesville. Of course her passion for making clothing, quilts and so much more stayed with her until her last days. Honey’s passion for sewing showed in her hand-made wedding dresses, majorette uniforms, children’s clothing, dresses and quilts which have affected the lives of so many in the past and for years to come. Alcenia “Honey” McCoy will always be remembered by her family and friends as a loving, generous and strong woman.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Frank Dudley McCoy; brothers, J.D. Walsh Jr., Charlie Wells Walsh, William Cullen Walsh, Ralph Waldo Emerson Walsh; and son, Joe McCoy.

Honey is survived by her daughter, Deborah Reser and husband, Regan of Iowa Park, Texas; son, Billy D. McCoy and wife, Susan of Troy, Texas; daughter-in-law, Sherry McCoy; step-son, Jack Dudley McCoy and wife, Judy of Troy, Texas; sister-in-law, Betty McFarland; 12 grandchildren, Kim Watson and husband, David, Craig McCoy and wife, Tanya, Ann Pharr and husband, Brad, Jill McGahey and husband, Colin, Eddie McCoy and wife, Irene, J.D. McCoy and fiancé, Erin, Gay Fry, Angie Betts and husband, Brandin, Kelly Jo Tatum and husband, Travis, Brittainy Smith and husband, Justin, Kyle Reser, Frankie McCoy, and Becky Moore McCartney; 25 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and special angels of her life, Vickie Hill and Darlene Nelson.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Gatesville, 2600 E. Main, Gatesville, TX 76528; Jonesboro Cemetery Association, c/o Myra Nichols, 875 C.R. 218, Gatesville, TX 76528; or Hospice of Wichita Falls, P.O. Box 4804, Wichita Falls, TX 76308.