Mearl Coy

November 6, 1947 - March 20, 1997

Mearl (MooRay) Ray Coy was born in Clarinda, Iowa, November 6, 1947, to Charles Coy and Darlene Mullen. He died died suddenly from a heart attack while walking his dogs on March 20, 1997, in Omaha, Nebraska.

After graduating from high school in Villisca, Iowa, in 1966, Mearl served in the Army in two tours of duty—the first from 1966 to 1972 and the second from 1974 to 1977. He served as a photographer in the Army, taking surveillance pictures, often while being strapped to the exterior of a helicopter.

Mearl also served as a police officer in Red Oak, a zip sorter at Cable Services, a technician at Control Data, and most recently as head of output services at First Data Resources in Omaha.

Mearl was a member of American Legion Post #1 in Omaha, the Eagles in Elkhorn, helped with Waterloo baseball, and was a member of a country dance group known as the Tequila Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son Eric, and daughter Christina.

He is survived by his wife, Terri Coy of Waterloo, Nebraska; children Todd Coy of Omaha, Randy Mazur of Waterloo, and Michele Mazur of Omaha; grandson Jerico Bingham-Coy of Omaha; sister Connie Coy of Pasadena, Texas; and aunt Alice Johnson and husband Jim of Red Oak, Iowa.

Funeral services were held March 24, 1997, at Reichmuth Funeral Home in Elkhorn, Nebraska, with the Rev. Russ Tompkins officiating. Honorary pallbearers were Wayne Bergen, Steve Bessey, Ron Latham, Ron Letheby, John Love, Lane O’Dell and Duane O’Neal.

This obituary appeared in the Villisca Review on April 3, 1997.