Alva Lee (Kelley) McCoy, age 84, also known as “Grammy” to her grandchildren, passed from this life on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at an Abilene nursing facility after a battle with and complications from the COVID-19 virus she contracted in late December 2021.
Born the daughter of Gordon Alvin Kelley and Hester Beatrice (Coker) Kelley on November 28, 1937, in Brownwood, Texas, Alva graduated from Bangs High School in 1956. She married Eldon Howard McCoy on December 1, 1956, and later moved to Abilene where she lived as a devoted wife and mother for 65 years. In earlier times, Alva was very active in church, civic, and business activities. She was a Certified Dental Assistant and served as president of the 17th District Dental Association in 1980. As an accomplished and award-winning artist in oil, acrylic, and other media, she was active in the Abilene Creative Arts Club and was a member of the Texas Fine Art Association and Big Country Arts Association. She studied under Abilene artist Maisi Sirois-Marshall as well as through the Washington School of Art. Alva taught art classes and was owner and operator of “Alva’s Originals” and “The Corner Shop” art studio/craft stores in Abilene. She worked in advertising at MediaTexas and was a member of the Business Professional Women’s Club. She taught Sunday School classes and was active in her support of youth organizations such as the Boy Scouts. While she enjoyed a busy life, she loved her family most of all.
Survivors include Alva’s husband Eldon; son Randy McCoy and wife Dee Dee of Fort Worth; three grandchildren, Chester McCoy and wife Charlene of Lubbock, Sarah McCoy of Fort Worth, and Ella McCoy of Pass Christian, Mississippi; great-grandson Ethan James McCoy of Lubbock; twin sister Donna Nichols of Abilene; special niece Kelly Berl of Champaign, Illinois; and several nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Alva was preceded in death by parents Gordon and Hester Kelley, and son Jeffrey Howard McCoy, an Abilene Police Officer killed in the line of duty in June 2007.
Services will be officiated by Mike Woodard, minister at Southwest Park Baptist Church, at 10:00AM Monday, April 25th, in Hendrick Hospice Care Chapel located at 1900 Pine Street in Abilene, followed by interment at Elmwood Memorial Park in Abilene.
Memorial donations may be given to the Abilene Police Department, Hendrick Medical Center, Hendrick Hospice Care, The Humane Society, or a charity of choice.
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