Jane Allen Howell McCoy Obituary

Jane Allen Howell McCoy, age 84, went to her final rest early in the morning on Saturday, October 21, 2023. She passed away peacefully at home with family at her bedside. Jane was born in Wellington, KS, in 1939. She graduated from Wellington High School at age 17 and later that year married her high school sweetheart, James (Jim) McCoy. After moving frequently during their first couple of decades together, the McCoy's settled in Clearwater, KS in the early 1970's where they raised their four children. Jane was a devoted mom and grandma and played an important role in the raising of several of her grandchildren. For two generations she made sure every birthday and holiday was a special event. No matter how thinly she was stretched, she was never too busy to ask how a day at school was and then really listen to the reply. She made sure uniforms were clean, costumes were ready, kids were taxied, snacks were prepared, homework was done, sleep-overs were planned, sicknesses were treated and wounds, inside or out, were tended with care. Animals and babies were drawn to her like a magnet because of her gentle spirit, but she was also the rock of the family and a great matriarch who gave us all the greatest gift we could receive, that of unconditional love.
In addition to being a full-time mom, Jane managed Jim's veterinary clinics over the years, developing great rapport with the area farmers and cattlemen who viewed her as an expert in the care of their animals. She had an extremely sharp intellect and started college at age 17. While she didn't ultimately pursue a college degree, she later expressed that she would have wanted to major in math, at which she undoubtedly would have excelled. She enjoyed working with numbers and was solving sudoku puzzles up until her final hospitalization. She could figure out how to build, fix or remodel just about anything. A favorite family joke amongst her cousins got started when one came to visit unexpectedly and found her outside fixing the windmill. From then on the joke was, "Guess what Jane's doing today!" "I don't know, fixing the windmill?" For them, this seemed to encapsulate her ability to accomplish anything she set out to do.
Jane also loved music and took vocal and piano lessons for many years. She instilled a love of music in all her children, encouraging all of us to play instruments and sing, and created a home where there was always someone sitting down to the piano or strumming a guitar. When her grandson, Kaden, was learning to play the drums, instead of telling him to play more quietly she would call down to him in the basement to play louder so visitors could hear him. Quintessential Jane! She loved singing with the congregation of the local Church of Christ where she was a dedicated member and taught Bible study to children of all ages for decades.
Jane remained in the family home in Clearwater until July, 2023, when she moved to The Haven Assisted Living Facility in Northwest Colorado. There she enjoyed being surrounded by caring staff and residents, engaging in the various activities offered, reading the Bible and her favorite novels, and wandering around the flower beds where she could be found pulling a weed or breaking off a dead bloom when the opportunity arose. The staff at The Haven fell in love with her immediately because of her gracious ways and her sincere gratitude for their care and for providing a place where she felt safe and comfortable. Jane's family is so grateful for the way she immediately became a part of The Haven Family and was treated with love and respect.
Jane is preceded in death by her husband James McCoy and her son Daniel McCoy. We rejoice in the reunions that are now taking place! She is survived by her daughter Lisa, Clearwater, KS; son Matthew (Shari), Ft. Smith, AR; daughter Shaney (Dan), Steamboat Springs, CO; daughter-in-law Marsha, Tulsa, OK; grandchildren Kaden, Ariah, Anna, William, Isabella, Rebecca, Chance and Zelda; and several "bonus" great-grandchildren and extended family members.
Jane's vibrant, loving spirit touched everyone she came in contact with, from those who knew her for her entire life to the nurses who cared for her briefly at the hospital before she was moved home on hospice care. Up until her final moments of consciousness, she was flashing that beautiful smile at anyone who came in contact with her, and people always seemed to know intuitively that it was a blessing.
In lieu of flowers, please consider sending donations to The Haven Assisted Living Facility, where Jane received amazing and loving care the last months of her life. Donations may be made online at HavenSeniorLiving.org or mailed to The Haven Assisted Living, 300 South Shelton Lane, Hayden CO 81639.
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