La Grande, Oregon
Glendolla Jacqueline “Jackie” Coy, 78, of La Grande, died Jan. 3 at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland. A celebration of her life will begin at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at “The Place,” 62872 Buchanan Lane, in Island City.
Jackie was born July 12, 1929, to George Earl and Ida Mae McDanell in Tulsa, Okla. The family traveled quite a bit, often living in rustic conditions. Jackie was the oldest of four siblings. She would tell stories of how she and her two sisters and brother would hunt or fish for the evening meal, pick greens, fruit, nuts and if luck had it they would find berries for supper. Her personal favorite was blackberries. She washed clothes in creeks and did not have indoor plumbing many times in her earlier years.
Over the years she worked at Woolworths, a dog food factory and dry cleaners. In January 1952 she married Frank Coy. They were married for 38 years before he died of heart and kidney failure. Shortly after, she moved to La Grande where she made her home.
Those who knew her say Jackie loved people and loved to play with kids and have lots of sleepovers, barbecues and tea parties. She also loved to fish and her eyes always lit up when she saw a big catfish. Camping with Jackie was an event. She had a way of making a campsite a home with extravagant, mouthwatering meals.
She was active in her church and mothered many. She formed a small group of older ladies who would visit even older ladies who were shut away. They called themselves “The October Roses.” She loved to have birthday parties for them and bring a smile to their faces whenever she could.
Survivors include her children, Donna Miller and Ronald Coy of La Grande and James Ellis of Shingletown, Calif.; sisters and their husbands, Jean and Don Piercy, and Dorothy Edgmon, all of California; numerous nieces and nephews; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
La Grande Observer – Obituaries For The Week Ending January 12, 2008 – Published Jan. 8, 2008