Margaret G. (Boerhave) McCoy of Lynden died at St. Joseph Hospital on her 59th wedding anniversary, Friday, June 25, 2004.
Margaret was born August 1, 1920 to John P. and Grace (Pilon) Boerhave in the family home on Front Street in Lynden. Margaret attended Lynden Schools and graduated in 1938. Her father, John, was an owner of the Lynden Department Store. Margaret would stop and visit him on her walk home from school. Her mother was one of the first to graduate from the Nursing School at St. Lukes Hospital in Bellingham in 1908. While growing up, Margaret and her family made many trips to Mt. Baker and road trips to California and across country. She first drove a car at the age of 16 in New York City and then drove the family car across the U.S. with her parents. Margaret received a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from Seattle Pacific College in 1942. The summer following graduation from SPC, she worked in Walla Walla where she met her future husband Dick McCoy who was serving in the Army Air Corps. Three weeks after they met, Dick was sent to England for three years. During that time they wrote letters and upon his return they were married in a garden ceremony at her parent's home on June 25, 1945. Margaret taught elementary education at Lynden Christian and Sumas Christian Schools.
Margaret was a member of the Bethel Christian Reformed Church. She was an active, long-time member of the D. U. P. I. Garden Club and the Lynden Garden Club. She enjoyed spending time with her family; gardening and beachcombing at her Birch Bay cabin.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Dick, on May 27, 2004, and brother, John W. Boerhave.
Mrs. McCoy is survived by her children Bill McCoy and his sons Brandon, Richard, John and Randy; Nancy McCoy; Marilyn McCoy and husband Patrick Jones and children Mitch and Robyn Kornelis, Nathan Kornelis and two great-grandsons Trevor and Colton Kornelis; Patty (McCoy) and Oral Keen; sister Hilda and husband Bill Roberts; sister-in-law Dorothy Boerhave and other relatives.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethel Christian Reformed Church; 1105 Liberty Street, Lynden 98264; D.U.P.I. Garden Club, c/o Sylvia Pruss, 3137 Sunset Way, Bellingham 98226 or the Lynden Garden Club, c/o Bernice Vossbeck, 700 Judson St., Lynden 98264.
The family would like to express their appreciation to Dr. H. Tamimi and staff at the UW Medical Center; Dr. Thomas Derleth and the Infusion Center staff at Madrona Medical Center; the St. Joseph Hospital staff; Rev. John VanSchepen and Bethel Christian Reformed Church and their Household of Faith family.
