Allen A. McCoy was born on April 3, 1930, in Detroit, MI, and went to our Lord on April 24, 2022. Allen’s parents were Emily M. McCoy and Walter T. McCoy. Allen was the seventh of eight children. He graduated from Detroit Redford High School and Wayne State University, with a degree in Geology.
Allen was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War and served with the 30th Engineers. During the war, Allen was stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco, CA, and traveled to Alaska where he worked as a topographic surveyor and surveyed many mountain tops. This suited Allen’s adventurous personality and provided him with many life-long memories.
Allen worked at various companies before starting A.A. McCoy Co. and then Air Design Inc. as a manufacturer’s representative of industrial HVAC equipment. Air Design is run now by his two sons and staff, in Southfield, MI.
Allen married Ruth B. Jones in 1957, whom he lovingly called “Ruthless.” During their marriage, they traveled to every state and all the Canadian provinces, as well as to Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, and Australia. Allen and Ruth lived in Southfield, MI until 2008, when they moved permanently to Gaylord, MI, to the cabin where he had spent summers as a boy with his three youngest sisters – “us four little kids.”
Allen and Ruth had 6 children, 19 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. Children and spouses are; Julia (McCoy) and Michael Dessert, Andrea (McCoy) and Michael Nestor, Russell and Jeannine McCoy, Sarah (McCoy) and Timothy McGlynn, Peter and Tina McCoy, Rachel (McCoy) and Jeffery Davis. Grandchildren are; Nathaniel (Brittney) Dessert, Cordelia Dessert, Joseph (Julia) Dessert, Isaac (Alaina) Dessert, Thomas Dessert, Erika Nestor, Jillian Nestor, Abigail Nestor, Jacob Nestor, Madeline McCoy, Jessica McCoy, Lucas McCoy, Katarina (Matthew) DeSchutter, Jameson McGlynn, Elijah McGlynn, Jonathan McCoy, Matthew McCoy, Gabrielle McCoy, and Sophie Davis. Great-grandchildren are; Lincoln Dessert, Cyrus Dessert, Wesley Dessert, Soren DeSchutter, and Owen McGlynn.
Allen is also survived by his sister, Joan Wager of Petoskey, MI, and many beloved in-laws and nieces and nephews.
Allen was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Gaylord, MI. He loved his home and all of the beauty of the north woods. He was a curious, intelligent, caring, and fun-loving person who made a huge impact on all who knew and loved him. He was an exceptional person who will be dearly missed.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, April 30, 2022, at 11:30 a.m., at First United Methodist Church.
Visitation will be held Friday, April 29, 2022, from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Nelson Funeral Home and continue Saturday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
Interment will be held at 4:00 p.m. at Hayes Township Cemetery, Gaylord, MI 49735.
Arrangements were entrusted to Nelson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, PO Box 1548, Gaylord, MI 49734.
To view the live steam of Allen’s service, please visit https://fb.watch/cJ5jKFMsW5/.
19 comments on “Allen A. McCoy”
Because I love each and every one of you, this is addressed to the entire McCoy family. Thank you for letting me be a part of Allen’s life! Oh the adventures I have heard about over the years… Allen made me feel like I was there! I will cherish all the wonderful memories. From learning about the treasures he picked up in his travels, to the many jokes we have told along the way, but most of all it was the way he loved his family…flawlessly. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. “How are you doing?” “Grate, like the top of a sewer!” (My personal favorite!) xoxo
Dad, I’m so sad that you had to go. You were so much fun to be around and you offered me so much helpful advice, like having a never give up attitude. I’m so glad to have been your son. I miss you so much, but it’s not goodbye, it’s see you later.
Love,
Pete
Oh, Uncle Al ! (or as you called yourself, Uncle Alien 👽) All the many memories I have of you, pretty much covering the whole emotional spectrum! When I was a toddler you taught me to LOVE lake water and trust it to hold me up, for a lifetime of enjoyable and sometimes challenging swims. As a teenager, babysitting baby Julia, you told me, “If she cries, hit her in the head with a wet washcloth. If she keeps crying, put a rock in it.” 🤪 As an adult we came to minor fisticuffs over a disagreement on proper dog care. There really is no one in my life that sticks out quite like you, Uncle Al. I am eternally blessed in so many ways by your granting permission for total blunt verbal expression. I appreciate your example of being hilarious and complex and living life to the hilt. You influenced me to be freer within my own life and I THANK YOU for THAT! You granted me so many gifts just in being authentically yourself – (whether or not I liked you at any given moment 🙂)- totally real, in full living color. Bye for now; holding onto your generous imprint on me, with joy in my heart that you are with our Lord 💐💕✌️
My family is thinking of you at this time. Sorry for your loss.
Great Uncle Al, I can’t believe you’re gone. I remember coming over with my Grandma, Joan. And you giving us a boat ride. I’m so thankful for you and your family. May you rest in piece 🖤🕊
Lots of Love and Prayers sent to the entire family
Love, Bob and Mary (Darby) Ken, Kim, Drew, Nichollette, and Lauryn Holder❤️
My sweet Dad, I miss you so much. I will miss you forever but will see you again in Heaven one day. My heart aches for you Dad. I am happy that you are no longer in pain though, but I will always want to see and talk to you.
Tim, Elijah, and I promise to always take care of Mom, your beautiful bride of 65 years, and my wonderful Mother.
I love you, Dad, forever and ever.
Love,
Sarah, your daughter with the little yellow shoes. ✝️✝️😓😓❤️❤️
I knew you many years ago, and I always loved to hear stories about your large family. Your face lit up whenever you spoke about your wonderful family. Sarah, you truly have been blessed with living parents and siblings, unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky. May you find peace with the passing of your father and hold firm in the belief that you will reunite.
Ruth and family, so sorry for your loss. He was quite the character and always had plenty of corny jokes, perhaps he will find Clem and they can reminisce about the good old days.
We were fortunate to become neighbors with Russ and Jeannine in 1993 and developed a close friendship with them as our kids grew up together. It wasn’t long after we moved into Beverly Hills that we first met Al and Ruth. Over the years we had many conversations with Al about grandchildren and life. He always had a smile on his face and some interesting topic to discuss. We know from these conversations that he loved his family above all else. He will be missed. Our condolences to Ruth and the entire McCoy family.
Sincerely,
Tim, Sue, Alex, and Jenna Weed
Dear Dad,
I miss you very much and love you very much forever. It is sad to accept that you have left us for now. I know though that you are in a better place in Heaven. I will never forget your incredible courage as you went through serious medical issues. You faced each one head-on and worked hard, staying optimistic and never complaining. Thank you Dad for being with us for as long as you could and for your amazing efforts.
Thank you for making me laugh and taking us flying down those old dirt roads when we were kids. Thank you for your fun and unpredictable self and for teaching us how to live life to the fullest. Thank you Dad for all the great memories, funny jokes, and stories. Thank you for loving me. I will keep trying, as you would want, to make you proud and take care of Mom. I love you forever sweet Daddy,
Andrea
Dad, I will miss you very much. I will always remember you’re irreverent jokes and buckwheat pancakes that you made for us every morning at the cabin. Your generosity will be missed. As your favorite Macedonian son-in-law, we had many discussions about history, geography, etc. You always expressed interest in so many topics.
Love you,
Mike Nestor
Uncle Al was such a hoot when he would come to our airplane building sessions. I worked with Wally and Don, his real nephews. But everybody always called him Uncle Al. He’d always find a broom and clean up our work area. He had a great sense of humor and it was always fun when he came around. I’m sorry he is gone.
Wally Loney
Uncle Alien 👽 ❤! That nick name came from me. I remember saying that when I was about 6 maby 7 years old. It was at the big breakfast table T your place down state. You always cook the most amazing buckwheat pancakes 🥞 and bacon 🥓 😋.!!! When I was little you seemed so strange. Somehow that feeling never left! Lol. As an adult we had many great talks and the awesome breakfasts never stopped. Weather down state or at the cabin. I have so many wonderful memories of the cabin and Lake T. I will miss you greatly, but the lessons you were able to help teach will stay forever, as well as your sense of humor, passion for life and being authentic to self! Love you Uncle Alien 👽 ❤ ♥!! Your energies that you passed on to everyone you encountered will continue!
Dear Alan, even though our time together was short, we just met at the beginning of December. It feels longer, like a cherished friendship. I loved your eyes that turned a brighter blue when you smiled. I loved your determination that even when you were getting weaker you found the strength to always do one more, whether it was doing an exercise, like one more pull-up, standing tall and touching up high, or walking across the floor, all the way to the tile, or all the way to your Ruth, you had determination and pushed yourself to always do one more. I could see that determination stay with you all the way, to the end, to finish that one last bite or even one more drink. I’ll remember when I did something before you were getting ready to ask, and you smiled and I said did I read your mind and you said about time, you were always coming up with something to make me smile, your humor was admired and enjoyed, But what I will remember the most was always you had a good morning for your “Ruth”. The love was unforgettable! No matter what we were doing it was “Where’s Ruth?” And the joy on your face when you saw her. Even after 65(?)years! Amazing! I have enjoyed meeting your wonderful and loving family. The family that you are so proud of and should be, are truly kind people. It shows how love makes a family strong! I will truly miss you and will always remember your kindness, strength, determination, and love. You were a great man and I bet too, a great angel. I know your family will feel your love from looking down from above. All my love to Ruth! And your family! I’m so sorry. Praying for you all.
I am so sorry for your loss and give my heartfelt sympathy to you all.. I wish healing and blessings for your families; I know Al will be missed.
Uncle Allen, you will be sorely missed and already are…..Denise and I had a trip planned to go up north this June and see you and Aunt Joanie (& everyone else). I’m very sorry we missed you, but we’ll meet again. There are many things Denise & I will always remember about you. Here’s just a couple: At the cabin, there’s that porcelain, or whatever it’s made out of, little black bear looking towards the cabin. Russel was scared to death of it. He must have been about 3, so you tied a rope to it, and tied it to the nearest tree, and then Russel was OK.
Denise & I stayed with you & Aunt Ruth 1 weekend back in the 2000’s, and it happened to be our wedding anniversary. They wondered if we needed some “alone time”, but we said no….that we’d been married too long…..but that’s not what we wanted to say here. That Saturday night we told Aunt Ruth & Uncle Allen that it was the night that we change the clocks…..we thought it was….but it wasn’t. They got up and went to church the next morning. They got back fairly quickly, for going to a church service. They had moved their clock the wrong way on the wrong day, and got to church just as service was being let out! They said it actually worked out good, because they got to chat with many people that they normally wouldn’t.
When we went to the McCoy family reunion at Wager’s farm in 1989, and were sitting around the campfire, Uncle Allen was telling some story about him “watering the lillies” at night. Denise asked Uncle Allen, ” why didn’t you wait until the morning to water the lillies?” She was fairly new to the family at that time.
We love you….Bob, Denise, and family
He was a great Uncle. I had a lot of good adventures with him.
Far too many to mention here. He will be sadly missed by me.
See ya in Heaven Allen, Tom Kujath
Al McCoy! A dear friend of my mom and dad. I got to know him and his family when I was young and always thought of him as an Uncle. So many fun times staying at the McCoys cabin and the puzzles upon puzzles that we put together. He had a contagious laugh, as well as his pretty wife. I’ll always have him in my memories. Say hello to mom and dad for me.